IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI (Civil Writ Jurisdiction)

W.P. (C) No.1113 of 2026 ----

Asrita Minj wife of Sri Bandan Oraon aged about 35 years resident of Village Chandali, P.O. Asni, P.S. Gumla, District – Gumla, Jharkhand.

…. …. Petitioner(s)

Versus

1. The State of Jharkhand.

2. The Principal Secretary, Department of Revenue and Land Reforms, Government of Jharkhand, Project Bhawan, P.O.+P.S.- Dhurwa, District – Ranchi, Jharkhand.

3. Deputy Commissioner, Collectorate Building, P.O.-GPO & P.S.- Gumla, District – Gumla.

4. Circle Officer, Sadar, P.O. Gumla, P.S. Gumla, District – Gumla, Jharkhand. …. …. Respondent(s)

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CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE RAJESH KUMAR ----

For the Petitioner(s) : Mr. Shashank Shekhar, Adv.

For the Respondent(s) : Mr. Ratnesh Kumar, S.C. (L&C)-I Mr. Prashant Kr. Rai, Adv.

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02/Dated: 18th February, 2026

1. The present writ petition has been filed for issuance of an appropriate writ in the nature of mandamus directing Respondent No.4 to carry out necessary corrections in Online Register-II and accept outstanding rent, from the Petitioners followed with issuance of Rent Receipt thereof in view of application dated 04.03.2025 and 06.01.2026 (Annexure-3 series).

2. The description of the land is as follows:-

“That the lands of Khata No. 26 under Khewat No.3 of Mauja Chandali, Gumla Sadar, Gumla comprising of several plots measuring an area 22.84 Acres is recorded in the name of Tila Oraon and Nand Oraon (ancestor of Petitioner).

Lands of Khata No. 32 under Khewat No.3 of Mauja Chandali, Gumla Sadar, Gumla comprising of several Lands of Khata No. 52 under Khewat No.3 of Mauja Chandali, Gumla Sadar, Gumla comprising of several Lands of Khata No. 48 under Khewat No.3 of Mauja Chandali, Gumla Sadar, Gumla comprising several plots measuring an area 15.47 Acres is recorded in the name of Munda Oraon (ancestor of Petitioner).”

3. It has been submitted by the learned counsel for the petitioner that earlier the petitioner had filed a petition being W.P. (C) No.1654 of 2025 which had been disposed of vide order dated 28.08.2025 by quashing the list of prohibited land with liberty to approach the concerned authority for his remedy. Thereafter, the petitioner preferred representation dated 24.10.2025 requesting respondent No.3 to remove the said land from the prohibited list and applications dated 04.03.2025 and 06.01.2026 have been preferred by the petitioner before the Respondent No.4 but the said authorities are not taking any action in spite of order passed this Court in W.P.(C) No.1654 of

2025.

4. Learned counsel appearing for the State submits that the authorities shall abide by any direction issued by this Court and shall consider the grievance of the petitioners in accordance with law.

5. Having heard learned counsel for the parties and upon consideration of the materials available on record, this Court finds that the earlier order dated 28.08.2025 passed in W.P. (C) No.1654 of 2025 has attained finality. Once the list of prohibited land has been quashed and liberty has been granted to the petitioners to approach the concerned authority, it is incumbent upon the authorities to consider the representation/applications of the petitioners in a time-bound manner.

6. In view of above discussion, the present writ petition is hereby allowed directing the respondents to consider and dispose of the applications dated 04.03.2025 and 06.01.2026 (Annexure-3 series) and carry out necessary corrections in Online Register-II and accept the outstanding rent from the petitioners and issue rent receipts forthwith within six weeks from the date of receipt/ production of a copy of this order.

7. It is made clear that if the aforesaid exercise is not completed within six weeks, the petitioner is entitled for Rs.10,000/- (Ten thousand) as a litigation cost, to be paid by the Deputy Commissioner, Gumla, who will recover the said amount from the erring officials.

8. The respondent No.2 i.e. the Principal Secretary, Department of Revenue and L