Patna High Court slams Bihar Police for being 'agents' of land mafia and bulldozing woman's house; warns of sending cop in jail

The Patna High Court recently came down heavily upon the Bihar Police for for bulldozing the house of a woman, allegedly, in connivance with land mafia [Sajoga Devi vs State of Bihar]..Single-judge Justice Sandeep Kumar did not hide his indignation after noting that the woman's house was demolished by the police officers using a bulldozer and without following the due procedure of law. "Bulldozer? Kya yaha bhi bulldozer chalane laga? Aisa kaun powerful aadmi hai jo aap bulldozer leke ghar todne chale gaye inka? Whom do you represent State or Private person? Tamasha bana diya hai ke kisi ka ghar bulldozer se tod denge (Has bulldozer started running here too? Who is that powerful person (on whose complaint) you are razing someone's house with a bulldozer? Have you made it a spectacle that you will demolish anyone's house with a bulldozer)," a miffed Justice Kumar remarked."Patna mein land mafia ke jo aap (Bihar Police) agent bane hue hai na, this has to be stopped," he added. .The strong observations were made after the bench was informed that one Sanjay Singh had filed a complaint with the Agamkuan Police in its weekly Janta Darbar convened on January 15, 2022. He had accused the petitioner woman of encroaching his land. The police had issued summons to the petitioner, however, she did not appear before the police. Therefore, the Police, without issuing a notice, as per the petitioner, brought in a bulldozer and razed her house. The bench noted from the documents placed on record that the police did not follow the due procedure."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," the judge opined.The bench further expressed displeasure over the conduct of the Police authorities in misusing its power and acting on complaints of land mafias by accepting bribes. "Bhoomi vivadon ko chinhit kar thana ko hi power de diya gaya hai execution karne ka? Aapko samsya hai toh chale jaiye thana, paisa de dejiye aur ghar tudwa dijiye kisi ka bhi... court ko band kar dijiye civil court ko, (Has the power of execution (to demolish) been given to the Police Station to identify land disputes? Is it like if one has a problem, s/he can go to the police, give some money and get someone's house demolished? Shut the Civil Courts then)" the judge remarked..During the hearing, the counsel for the petitioner woman, told the bench that four private persons have been made as respondents to the petition as they are land mafias. The Bench immediately issued notice to these persons and ordered the Station House Officer (SHO), Agamkuan to file a separate report on the antecedents of these four persons. The bench was also informed of an alleged false FIR lodged by the Police, against the petitioners, only to pressurise her so that she gives up her claim on the land, where her house was constructed. The judge, stayed the FIR saying, "You need not worry. I am here to protect you and not trouble you."The Court further said it would order all the culprits to pay ₹5 lakh each from their own pocket as a compensation for getting the petitioner's house demolished. "Ab Police or CO (Circle Officer) milkar ghar tudwa raha hai ghus lekar... Patna mein land mafia ke jo aap (Bihar Police) agent bane hue hai na, this has to be stopped...Ek Officer incharge jail jayega... Aap log ye sab khatam karege... Isse pehle bhi ek matter tha, ek doctor ka land grab hua tha," the Court warned..Further, the single-judge ordered the Superintended of Police (Patna east), Circle Officer, SHO Agamkuan and also the four land mafias to appear before the court personally on December 8."Sabka barat lekar aaiye ga," Justice Kumar told the government counselThe matter will be heard on December 8 now.