India, March 12 -- The Supreme Court has struck down a law in Bihar allowing the State Government to take over a heritage Patna library, saying the provision for token compensation of Rs 1 for such acquisition was "illusory" and lacked the basic attributes of fairness. Setting aside the 2024 order of the Patna High Court, which had previously upheld the State's takeover, a bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta said, "The Srimati Radhika Sinha Institute and Sachchidanand Sinha Library (Requisition & Management) Act, 2015 is declared unconstitutional and is accordingly struck down."

The bench directed that the management and administration of the library be restored to the original trust.

Located in the heart of the Bihar Capita...