"Tamasha Bana Diya, Kisi Ka Bhi Ghar Bulldozer Se Tod Denge?": Patna HC Slams Bihar Police For Demolishing A Woman's House

"Kya yahan bhi Bulldozer chalne laga? Whom do you represent, the state or some private person? Tamasha bana diya ki kisi ka bhi ghar bulldozer se tod denge," the Patna High Court remarked recently while slamming Bihar Police for demolishing a woman's house allegedly at the instance of a land mafia. (Has the bulldozer started running here too? Who do you represent, the State or some private person? made a spectacle of it that you will demolish anyone's house with a bulldozer)

Perusing the counter affidavit of the Station House Officer in the matter, the Court made a prima facie observation that the house was illegally demolished by the state police without following the due process of law. The bench of Justice Sandeep Kumar also observed that all the officials are hand in glove with some land mafia.

"Bhoomi vivadon ko chinhit kar, thana ko hi power de diya hai execution karna ka? Aapka samasya hai to thana jaiye, paisa dijiye aur ghar tudva dijiye kisi ka...civil court ko band kar dijiye. (After identifying the land disputes, has the police station been given the power of execution? If one has a problem then he can to the police station, give money, and get someone's house demolished...close the civil court then)," the bench orally observed as it expressed its anguish over the way the house in question was demolished superseding the powers of the court.

Further, when the court was informed by the counsel of the victim that certain land mafias are also involved in the matter and such persons have been impleaded in the plea as respondents no. 8 to 12, the Court went ahead to issue a notice to them and directed them to appear before the Court through their counsels on the next date of hearing (December 8).

The S.H.O, Agamkuan Police Station was further directed to submit criminal antecedents of respondents no. 8 to 12.

Significantly, when the petitioner's counsel informed the Court that a false case had been registered against the petitioner and her family members so as to pressurize them to vacate the land at the instance of the Land Mafias, the bench gave an assurance to the petitioner that he was there to protect the petitioner and not to trouble the petitioner.

Consequently, the Court stayed the FIR and restrained the police from arresting the petitioner, and her family members in the case.

"5-5 lakh rupye dilwaynge hum, ghar tudwane ka...personal pocket se. Ab police or CO milkar ghar tudwa raha hai ghoos lekar...Patna mein land mafia ke jo jameen kabza mein aap (referring to police officers) jo agent bane hue hain na... this has to be stopped," Justice Sandeep Kumar further remarked while conveying its sentiments to the state counsel. 

The Court also directed the Superintendent of Police, Patna East, the Circle Officer, Patna City, and Officer-in-Charge, Agamkuan Police Station, Patna to appear personally in the Court on December 8, 2022.

Case title - SAJOGA DEVI v. THE STATE OF BIHAR

Live-stream of the hearing could be watched here (watch from around 1:46:30 mark) :

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