Bihar and Orissa Public Demands Recovery Act Doesn't Permit Belated Recovery From Legal Heirs After Years Of Inaction: Patna High Court

The Patna High Court has held that Section 52 of the Bihar and Orissa Public Demands Recovery Act, 1914, does not confer an unrestricted or perpetual power upon the State to initiate recovery proceedings against the legal heirs of a deceased certificate debtor after years of unexplained inaction. The Court held that such proceedings must be pursued strictly in accordance with law and within...

Patna High Court Quashes FIR Against GATE AIR 45 Holder, Says Student Protest Was In 'Youthful Exuberance'

The Patna High Court has quashed an FIR lodged against an engineering student accused of vandalism and assault during a protest over internal assessment marks, observing that the incident was merely “an act of protest undertaken by a number of students in youthful exuberance” and that continuation of the proceedings would unfairly jeopardise the petitioner's future.A Single Judge Bench...

Similarly Situated Employees Already Regularised Cannot Be Denied Same Benefit Without Intelligible Differentia: Patna High Court

The Patna High Court has held that an employee whose appointment was made under the same staffing pattern and in identical circumstances as other employees who have already been regularised cannot be denied the same benefit in the absence of any intelligible differentia. The Court observed that doing so would amount to unequal treatment amongst equals.A Division Bench of Justice Sudhir Singh...

Medical Negligence Case Requires Prima Facie Proof Of Gross Negligence Supported By Medical Opinion: Patna High Court

The Patna High Court has held that criminal prosecution against a doctor for alleged medical negligence cannot continue in the absence of prima facie material disclosing gross negligence supported by competent medical opinion. The Court observed that permitting such prosecution would cause manifest injustice and undermine the distinction between civil liability and criminal culpability.A...

Patna High Court Upholds Blacklisting Of ORS Supplier After Seven Batches Failed Quality Tests

The Patna High Court has upheld the blacklisting of an Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS) supplier, observing that in matters involving procurement of medicines for public distribution, the procuring agency is under a heightened obligation to ensure that only products meeting prescribed quality standards reach beneficiaries. The Court held that once the agreed contractual quality assurance...

LiveLaw Patna High Court Half-Yearly Digest: January - June, 2026

Nominal Index [Citations: 2026 LiveLaw (Pat) 1 - 92]Ram Narayan Singh v. State of Bihar & Ors. 2026 LiveLaw (Pat) 1Alok Pandey v. State of Bihar & Ors. 2026 LiveLaw (Pat) 2Sikandar Ajam v. State of Bihar & Ors. 2026 LiveLaw (Pat) 3Md. Jahid (Minor) vs State of Bihar 2026 LiveLaw (Pat) 4Ankit Harsh v. Union of India & Ors. 2026 LiveLaw (Pat) 5Manoj Kumar Sudhanshu v. State of...

Debarment Can't Continue After Contractor Completes Work Accepted By Department: Patna High Court

The Patna High Court has held that a contractor's debarment cannot continue after the work for which the debarment was imposed has been completed and accepted by the department. The Court observed that in the absence of a fresh order extending the debarment or assigning reasons for its continuance, such debarment assumes the character of an impermissible indefinite debarment.A Division Bench...

Tender Can't Be Cancelled Citing Expiry Of Bid Validity After Invoking Extension Clause: Patna High Court

The Patna High Court has held that once a tendering authority invokes the contractual mechanism for extension of bid validity and obtains the bidders' consent, it cannot subsequently justify cancellation of the tender solely on the ground that the original bid validity period expired. The Court held that such a course is inconsistent with the scheme of the Standard Bidding Document...

Patna High Court Grants Bail To Accused In NEET Paper Leak Case

The Patna High Court has granted bail to an accused in the NEET paper leak case, whose name surfaced during investigation. The Court was hearing a bail plea in connection with a case alleging a conspiracy to procure and distribute question papers before the examination.A Single Judge Bench of Justice Ashok Kumar Pandey allowed the bail application in a case registered for offences under...

PDS Contractor Accused Of Diverting Foodgrains For Black Marketing Can Be Blacklisted Without Awaiting Trial: Patna High Court

The Patna High Court has held that a contractor engaged for transportation of foodgrains under the Public Distribution System (PDS) can be blacklisted and have the contract terminated without awaiting the outcome of criminal proceedings arising from allegations of diversion of foodgrains for black marketing. The Court observed that contractual action is distinct from criminal liability and may...

Rules Can't Be Changed After Recruitment Process Substantially Concludes: Patna High Court Quashes Cancellation Of Teachers' District Allotment

The Patna High Court has held that statutory amendments cannot be applied retrospectively to alter the substantive conditions of a recruitment process that had already substantially concluded under the unamended rules. The Court held that once local body teachers had qualified the competency test, secured district allotment based on merit and preferences, completed counselling and...

'Govt Housing Schemes Can't Meet A Dead-End': Patna High Court Pulls Up Officials Over 16-Year Delay In Settlement For Landless Families

The Patna High Court has observed that government welfare schemes meant to provide housing to landless and poor persons cannot be allowed to “meet a dead-end” because of the callous and indifferent approach of government officials. The Court directed the concerned authorities to decide the petitioners' long-pending claim for settlement of land and issuance of a No Objection Certificate...