WPC/7652/2026 of SUHAWAN HORO Vs THE STATE OF JHARKHAND on 29 September 2026

1. Suhawan Horo, S/o Late John Horo, R/o Club Road, New Garden, Siromtoli, PO & PS-Chutia, District-Ranchi

2. Amit Horo, S/o Suhawan Horo, R/o Club Road, New Garden, Siromtoli, PO & PS-Chutia, District-Ranchi

... … Petitioners Versus

1. The State of Jharkhand

2. The Secretary, Department of Revenue, Registration & Land Reforms, Government of Jharkhand, Ranchi

3. The Deputy Commissioner, Ranchi

4. Ther Additional Collector, Ranchi

5. The District Land Acquisition Officer, Ranchi

6. The Circle Officer, Namkum, Ranchi

7. The Project Director, National Highways Authority of India, Ashok Nagar, PO & PS-Doranda, District-Ranchi

… … Respondents ----- CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE RAJESH SHANKAR -----

For the Petitioners

: Mr. J.J. Sanga, Advocate

Mr. Randhir Kumar Sharma, Advocate

Ms. Angel Khalkho, Advocate

For the Respondent Nos.1 to 6 : Mr. Deepak Kumar, AC to SC (L&C)-III

For the Respondent No. 7 : Mr. Vidhan Kumar Singh, AC to

Mrs. Richa Sanchita, Advocate ----- Order No. 02

Dated: 29.09.2026

1. The present writ petition has been filed for issuance of direction upon the respondents to pay compensation to the petitioners for the land appertaining to Khata No. 23, Plot No. 120, measuring an area of 0.0475 acre of Village-Gundu, Thana No. 268, Namkum Anchal, Ranchi, which has been acquired by the respondents vide Land Acquisition Case No. 70/2017-18 to improve sharp curves for Dusmile-Chukru- Remta-Sodasom Project, however, according to the petitioners, the amount of compensation has not been paid to them. Further prayer has been made for issuance of direction upon the respondents to pay statutory interest on the compensation amount for acquisition of the aforesaid land.

2. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that Late Bina Horo, wife of the petitioner no. 1 and mother of the petitioner no. 2 purchased 50 decimals of land. After purchase of the said land, she got the same mutated in her name and the rent receipts were also issued on payment of rent. After death of Bina Horo, the petitioners being her legal heirs got possession over the same.

3. It is further submitted that subsequently, a notification was issued under the signature of the respondent no. 5 – the District Land Acquisition Officer, Ranchi on 08.03.2019 for acquisition of the petitioners’ land to improve sharp curves for Dusmile-Chukru-Remta-Sodasom Project. Pursuant to the said notification, Land Acquisition Case No. 70/2017-18 was initiated by the respondent no. 5 and a notice under Section 37(2) of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 was issued in the name of Late Bina Horo for acceptance of the compensation amount for acquisition of the land. On receiving the said notice, the petitioners made application to the respondent no. 5 along with the required relevant documents for acceptance of the compensation amount.

4. Learned counsel for the petitioners also submits that the respondent no. 5 issued letter No. 710(ii) dated 20.03.2025 to the respondent no. 6 – the Circle Officer, Namkum, Ranchi asking him to verify the genealogical table of the petitioners as well as to furnish the jamabandi report. The grievance of the petitioners is that even after completion of the entire verification of the jamabandi and genealogical table of the petitioners, the compensation amount in lieu of acquisition of the land in question has not been paid to them till date. The petitioners represented different authorities including the respondent no. 5 for release of the awarded amount in their favour, however, no action was taken on the same, which compelled them to prefer the present writ petition.

5. Mr. Deepak Kumar, AC to SC (L&C)-III appearing on behalf of the respondent nos. 1 to 6 and Mr. Vidhan Kumar Singh, AC to Mrs. Richa Sanchita, learned counsel for the respondent no. 7, jointly submit that since no counter affidavits have been filed in the present case, they are not in a position to submit about the further development pursuant to issuance of letter dated 20.03.2025 by the respondent no. 5.

6. On this, learned counsel for the petitioners submits that as per his instruction, no further lawful step has been taken by the respondent no. 5 pursuant to issuance of letter dated 20.03.2025.

7. Having heard learned counsel for the parties and considering the nature of prayer made in the writ petition, the respondent no. 5 is directed to take up the matter and on providing an opportunity of hearing to the petitioners/their representative as well as the representative of the respondent no. 7, to take an appropriate informed decision in accordance with law within

six weeks from the date of receipt/production of a copy of this order.

8. The writ petition is accordingly disposed of with aforesaid direction.

(Rajesh Shankar, J.) September 29, 2026 Manish

Uploaded on 30.09.2026