In Sajoga Devi v. The State of Bihar, the Patna High Court single bench Justice Sandeep Kumar came down heavily upon the Bihar Police after hearing the Petition filed by Sajoga Devi on 15th October 2022, for illegally demolishing her house. It was noticed that the officers had taken matters into their own hands and did not follow the due procedure of law.
It was informed that one Sanjay Singh had filed a complaint on 15th January 2022 with the Agamkuan Police Patna, Bihar. He accused the Petitioner women for intruding his land and wrongfully constructing the house on it. The Police had then issued summons to the petitioner women however, she did not show up before them. Hence, the Agamkuan Police at the request of Mr. Sanjay Singh brought in a bulldozer and wrecked the said petitioner women’s house.
The Judge remarked by saying, “Whom do you represent, the state or some private person?”
The excerpts from Judgement read out as, “From reading of the FIR and the documents it appears prima facie that all the officials are hands in glove with land mafia and have illegally demolished the house of the petitioner, without following the due procedure of law”.
It was found that the Bihar State police had joined hands with the Land Mafia without following the procedure of law and demolished the Petitioner’s House. When the Court was informed about this by the Counsel of the victim, the Court issued a notice against the four Land Mafia’s and ordered the Station House Officer (SHO) to file a separate report on these people and submit it soon. The Court also directed these four respondents to make an appearance on the next hearing that is on 8th December 2022.
The Petitioner’s counsel further stated that a false case had been registered against the Petitioner women and her family in order to pressurize her into vacating the house and land. The Judge reassured the Petitioner by saying that he was there to protect her and not to cause the petitioner trouble. He further ordered the Superintended of Police of Patna East, The Circle Officer, SHO of Agamkuan to appear before the Court on December 8th 2022.
At the end of the hearing Justice Kumar told the Government counsel, “Sabka barat lekar aaiye ga”.
Source: LiveLaw, Bar and Bench
