Shashi Ranjan Singh vs The State of Bihar

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.5762 of 2026
======================================================
Shashi Ranjan Singh son of Binod Prasad Singh, Resident of - Behind
Darbhanga Nagar Nigam Senapath, P.S. Nagar, District-Darbhanga, Pin Code-
846004 (Bihar).
... ... Petitioner
Versus
1. The State of Bihar through the Secretary, Department of Higher Education,
Government of Bihar, New Secretariat, Patna, Bihar.
2. The Secretary, Department of Higher Education, Government of Bihar, New
Secretariat, Patna, Bihar.
3. The Chancellor, Universities of Bihar, Raj Bhavan, Patna, Bihar.
4. Magadh University, Bodh Gaya, through its Registrar, Magadh University,
Bodh Gaya, Bihar.
5. The Vice Chancellor, Magadh University, Bodh Gaya, Bihar.
6. Dr. Shashi Pratap Shahi, Vice Chancellor, Magadh University, Bodh Gaya,
Bihar.
7. The Registrar, Magadh University, Bodh Gaya, Bihar.
8. The Finance Officer, Magadh University, Bodh Gaya, Bihar.
9. SMT Indra Singh, Finance Officer, Magadh University, Bodh Gaya, Bihar.
10. Bihar State University Service Commission (BSUSC), through its Chairman,
Maurya Lok Complx, Patna, Bihar.
11. The Chairman, Bihar State University Service Commission (BSUSC), Patna,
Bihar.
12. The Additional Director General of Police Special Vigilance Unit (SVU),
Bihar, Patna, Bihar.
... ... Respondents
======================================================
Appearance :
For the Petitioner : Mr. Manas Rajdeep, Advocate
For the State Mr. Anjani Kumar, AAG-4
Mr. Alok Kr. Rahi, AC to AAG-4
For the Chancellor : Mr. Amish Kumar, Advocate
For Magadh University : Mr. P.K. Shahi, Sr. Advocate
Mr. Siddharth Prasad, Advocate
======================================================
CORAM: HONOURABLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE
and
HONOURABLE JUSTICE SMT. SONI SHRIVASTAVA
ORAL JUDGMENT
(Per: HONOURABLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE)
Date : 29-06-2026
The instant writ petition pertains to allegations
of large scale financial irregularities, procurement works,
tender manipulations and administrative corruption by
officials of the Magadh University, Bodh Gaya. It is alleged

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that the said corruption has caused loss of several crores to
the public exchequer with no action despite
representations.
2. The prayers sought for in the writ petition are
as follows:-
“ i. For directing the Respondent
Authorities to take appropriate action
by conducting proper enquiry on the
representations dated January 21,
2026 submitted by the Petitioner
before the Respondent Authorities,
addressed to the Chancellor,
Universities of Bihar by highlighting the
corrupt practices, financial
irregularities, tender manipulations,
procedural irregularities, and financial
losses exceeding ₹1.70 crores to the
University exchequer in various
tenders including Online portal under
NEP CBCS, vehicle purchases, printing
contracts with Chaudhary Printing
Press, or phantom sensor networks, by
submitting relevant evidences in
support of allegations attributed
against the Respondents.
ii. For directing the Respondent
Authorities to immediately
stop/withhold any further release of
payments and to maintain status quo
with respect to further disbursement
under the work order dated 22.09.2023
issued in favour of Chaudhary Printing
Press (approx. Rs.1.26 Crores), until

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completion of an impartial
investigation.
iii. For direction upon Respondent
authorities to institute a enquiry by
special vigilance unit with regard to
policy decisions and misuse of
university funds in crores for blatant
violation of Bihar Finance Rules which
amounts to administrative corruption
and financial malpractices by
university administration.
iv. For direct upon Respondent
authorities to investigate into financial
illegalities/defalcation committed by
university officials and investigation is
required to be done under the
monitoring of this Hon'ble court as the
huge amount has defalcated by means
of cheating and fraud by the top
officials.
v. For directing the Respondent
Authorities to ensure registration of an
appropriate FIR/Police Case on the
basis of the materials placed on record
and to cause a fair, impartial and
effective investigation/ inquiry by
Special Vigilance Unit which was
constituted to investigate cases of
larger magnitude by specialized
competent officers of Central Bureau
Of Investigation into the allegations
relating to tender manipulation, illegal
gratification, manipulation of audit
reports, diversion/misutilization of

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public funds, criminal conspiracy and
accumulation of disproportionate
assets, and to proceed strictly in
accordance with law by invoking the
applicable penal provisions, including
provisions corresponding to criminal
breach of trust, cheating and
conspiracy under the Bharatiya Nyaya
Sanhita, 2023 as applicable), and the
relevant provisions of the Prevention of
Corruption Act, 1988, and to submit
periodic status reports before this
Hon'ble Court, so that the investigation
remains insulated from any influence
of the present management of Magadh
University or any other extraneous
pressure; and further to direct initiation
of consequential departmental action
and recovery proceedings for wrongful
loss caused to the public exchequer.
vi. In the alternative, and if this Hon'ble
Court deems fit, the matter may be
directed to be investigated by an
independent central agency such as
the CBI, under the monitoring of this
Hon'ble Court.
vii. For grant of any other relief or
reliefs as your Lordships may found
entitled to.”
3. It is submitted by learned counsel for the
petitioner that petitioner is an Investigative Journalist. In
contradiction thereof, however, we find at paragraph no.4
of the petition that, the petitioner has only passed the

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matriculation examination.
4. Learned counsel for the respondent no.4
(Magadh University) submits that the statement made in
paragraph no.4 of the pleadings of the petitioner does not
qualify the petitioner to lodge the instant Public Interest
Litigation (hereinafter referred to as ‘P.I.L.’. Secondly, an
identical prayer was made before this Court in C.W.JC.
No.4102/2026 whereby the said matter was disposed of
with the observation that the petitioner is not remedy-less
if he has material evidence that persons are engaged in
financial irregularities. However, if such imputation and
allegation requires proper indepth enquiry and
investigation, normally the writ petition by way of P.L.I.
should not be entertained.
5. Learned counsel for the State of Bihar
(Respondent No.1), while endorsing the submissions
advanced by learned counsel for the respondent no.6 (Vice
Chancellor), submits that the document at Annexure-P/6 is
also the indicative of the fact that the petitioner is making
an effort to extort financial benefits from the respondent-
University.
6. In view of the contradictions in the verbal
submissions and the arguments of learned counsel for the
petitioner, we find that we cannot rely on the locus standi
of the petitioner. We also notice that the petitioner does not
have the requisite qualification to be a journalist as

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admittedly he does not have a degree in journalism. Merely,
reporting matters in our considered view, would not qualify
the person/petitioner as a journalist much less an
investigative journalist. That apart, we also find that
although the petitioner claims to have raised other issues
concerning public interest and being actively engaged in
social causes but there are no records submitted before this
Court to fortify these submissions. It was urged by learned
counsel for the petitioner that paragraph nos. 9, 11, 12 and
13 of the petition are also instances indicative of the
proactive measures taken by the petitioner in public
interest. We find that it pertains to the same University and
do not reflect any works taken up by the petitioner in public
interest, but are additional allegations made against the
Magadh University and its Vice Chancellor for defalcation of
funds.
7. We have given due consideration to the
submissions advanced by the learned counsel for the
parties.
8. In conclusion, we notice that the petitioner has
no prior record of having taken up any matter in pubic
interest. Secondly, the allegations pertain to financial
irregularities and defalcation committed by the university
officials, this, in our considered view tantamounts to
allegations of a criminal offence. In a criminal offence the
complainant/prosecution is to prove its case beyond all

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reasonable doubt. In the absence of any investigation into
the alleged defalcation, the writ Court cannot reach a
finding that there has been any defalcation.
9. In our considered view, the petitioner ought to
approach the concerned Authorities who deal with such
matters. Accordingly we are of the considered opinion that
this petition is not maintainable as a P.I.L. and stands
dismissed and disposed of accordingly.


(Meenakshi Madan Rai, CJ)
(Soni Shrivastava, J)
Harsh/-
AFR/NAFR
CAV DATE N.A.
Uploading Date 03.07.2026
Transmission Date