Disposed¶102

Kalam Ansari v. State of Chhattisgarh

Chhattisgarh HC9 Feb 2026WPC/609/2026

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Chhattisgarh High Court, Bilaspur; WPC Nos. 601, 608, 609, 610, 611, 612 of 2026; decided 10.02.2026; Justice Rakesh Mohan Pandey; Forest Rights Act, 2006; pending forest-right applications/representations before Collector Balrampur; District Level / Divisional Level / Panchayat Level Van Adhikar Committee-Samiti; mandamus-type direction to decide within 3 days; interim restraint on coercive/eviction action; petitions disposed of; Mr. A.N. Pandey for petitioners; Mr. Vinay Pandey Dy.A.G., Mr. Shreyansh Mehta PL and Mr. Anand Dadariya for respondents.

What did the court decide?

Direction to the concerned Collector to decide the petitioners' pending applications/representations for grant of forest rights within a period of three days; protection of the petitioners from coercive action for three days or until the decision is taken. ¶102

Kalam Ansari Vs State of Chhattisgarh — Chhattisgarh HC (2026) — LawSathi Research

¶1

NAFR

¶2

HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR

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WPC No. 609 of 2026

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1 - Kalam Ansari S/o Yusuf Ansari, Aged About 33 Years R/o Village- Ganjar, Tahsil And P.S. Ramchandrapur, Distt. Balrampur Ramanujganj (C.G.)

¶5

REKHA

¶6

--- Petitioner(s)

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SINGH

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versus

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1 - State Of Chhattisgarh Through The Department Of Revenue, Mahanadi Bhawan, New Raipur, Distt. Raipur (C.G.)

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2 - The Secretary, Department Of Forest Mahanadi Bhawan, New Raipur, Distt. Raipur C.G.

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3 - The Collector, Balrampur/ Chairman Of The District Level Van Adhikar Committee- Balrampur, Distt. Balrampur Ramanujganj (C.G.)

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4 - Assistant Commissioner/ Secretary District Level Van Adhikar Samiti- Balrampur, Distt. Balrampur Ramanujganj (C.G.)

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5 - The Sub Divisional Officer (Revenue) /chairman Of Divisional Level Van Adhikar Samiti- Ramanujganj, Distt. Balrampur Ramanujganj (C.G.)

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6 - The Divisional Forest Officer, Forest Division- Balrampur Distt. Balrampur Ramanujganj (C.G.)

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7 - Forest Range Officer, Forest Range- Navadih (Dhamni), Distt. Balrampur Ramanujganj (C.G.)

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8 - Range Assistant, Forest Range- Navadih, Distt. Balrampur Ramanujganj (C.G.)

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9 - Secretary Of Panchayat Leval Van Adhikar Committee Village- PanchayatGanjar, Tahsil- Ramchandrapur, Distt. Balrampur Ramanujganj (C.G.)

¶18

--- Respondent(s)

¶19

WPC No. 611 of 2026

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1 - Jamaludin Ansari S/o Jaan Mohd. Aged About 58 Years R/o Village Ganjar, Tahsil And P.S. Ramchandrapur, District- Balrampur- Ramanujganj (C.G.)

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--- Petitioner(s)

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Versus

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1 - State Of Chhattisgarh Through The Department Of Revenue, Mahanadi Bhawan, New Raipur , District- Raipur (C.G.)

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-2-

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2 - The Secretary, Department Of Forest Mahanadi Bhawan, New Raipur , DistrictRaipur (C.G.)

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3 - The Collector, Balrampur/ Chairman Of The District Level Van Adhikar Committee Balrampur. District- Balrampur - Ramanujganj (C.G.)

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4 - Assistant Commissioner / Secretary, District Level Van Adhikar Samiti Balrampur District- Balrampur. Ramanujganj (C.G.)

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5 - The Sub Divisional Officer (Revenue) / Chairman Of Divisional Level Van Adhikar Samiti Ramanujganj District- Balrampur - Ramanujganj (C.G.)

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6 - The Divisional Forrest Officer, Forest Division Balrampur. District- Balrampur - Ramanujganj (C.G.)

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7 - Forest Range Officer , Forest Range Navadih (Dhamni) District- Balrampur - Ramanujganj (C.G.)

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8 - Range Assistant Forest Range Navadih District- Balrampur - Ramanujganj (C.G.)

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9 - Secretary Of Panchayat Level Van Adhikar Committee Village Panchayat Ganjar Tahsil Ramchandrapur District- Balrampur - Ramanujganj (C.G.)

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--- Respondent(s)

¶34

WPC No. 610 of 2026

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1 - Nure Alam S/o Mohmuddin Aged About 40 Years R/o Village- Ganjar Tahsil And P.S. Ramchandrapur Distt- Balrampur Ramanujganj (C.G.)

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--- Petitioner(s)

¶37

Versus

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1 - State Of Chhattisgarh Through- The Department Of Reveune Mahanadi Bhawan New Raipur Distt- Raipur (C.G.)

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2 - The Secretary Department Of Forest Mahanadi Bhawan New Raipur DisttRaipur (C.G.)

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3 - The Collector Balrampur /chairman Of The District- Level Van Adhikar Committee - Balrampur Distt- Balrampur - Ramanujganj (C.G.)

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4 - Assistant Commissioner Secretary District- Level Van Adhikar Samiti-Balrampur Distt- Balrampur -Ramanujganj (C.G.)

¶42

5 - The Sub Divisional Officer (Revenue) Chairman Of Divisional Level Van Adhikar Samiti Ramanujganj Distt- Balrampur-Ramanujganj (C.G.)

¶43

6 - The Divisional Forrest Officer Forest Division Balrampur Distt- BalrampurRamanujganj (C.G.)

¶44

7 - Forest Range Officer Forest Range Navadih (Dhamni) Distt- Balrampur Ramanujganj (C.G.)

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8 - Range Assistant Forest Range Navadih Distt- Balrampur-Ramanujganj (C.G.)

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9 - Secretary Of Panchayat Level Van Adhikar Committee- Village- Panchayat - Ganjar Tahsil- Ramchandrapur Distt- Balrampur-Ramanujganj (C.G.)

¶47

--- Respondent(s)

¶48

WPC No. 601 of 2026

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1 - Mohd. Rafiq S/o Abdulla Ansari Aged About 32 Years R/o Village- Ganjar, Tahsil And P.S.- Ramchandrapur, Distt.- Balrampur-Ramanujganj (C.G.)

¶50

--- Petitioner(s)

¶51

Versus

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1 - State Of Chhattisgarh Through - The Department Of Revenue, Mahanadi Bhawan, New Raipur, Distt.- Raipur (C.G.)

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2 - The Secretary Department Of Forest Mahanadi Bhawan, New Raipur, Distt.Raipur (C.G.)

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3 - The Collector Balrampur / Chairman Of The District Level Van Adhikar Committee - Balrampur, Distt.- Balrampur-Ramanujganj (C.G.)

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4 - Assistant Commissioner / Secretary District Level Van Adhikar Samiti Balrampur, Distt.- Balrampur-Ramanujganj (C.G.)

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5 - The Sub-Divisional Officer (Revenue) / Chairman Of Divisional Level Van Adhikar Samiti Ramanujganj, Distt.- Balrampur-Ramanujganj (C.G.)

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6 - The Divisional Officer Forest Division - Balrampur Distt.- BalrampurRamanujganj (C.G.)

¶58

7 - Forest Range Officer Forest Range- Navadih (Dhamni), Distt.- BalrampurRamanujganj (C.G.)

¶59

8 - Range Assistant Forest Range- Navadih, Distt.- Balrampur-Ramanujganj (C.G.)

¶60

9 - Secretary Of Panchayat Level Van Adhikar Committee Village- PanchayatGanjar, Tahsil- Ramchandrapur, Distt.- Balrampur-Ramanujganj (C.G.)

¶61

--- Respondent(s)

¶62

WPC No. 612 of 2026

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1 - Umar Ansari S/o Ayub Ansari Aged About 31 Years R/o Village- Ganjar, Tahsil And P.S.- Ramchandrapur, Distt- Balrampur- Ramanujganj, Chhattisgarh

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--- Petitioner(s)

¶65

Versus

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1 - State Of Chhattisgarh Through- The Department Of Revenue, Mahanadi Bhawan- New Raipur, District : Raipur, Chhattisgarh

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2 - The Secretary Department Of Forest Mahanadi Bhawan New Raipur, District : Raipur, Chhattisgarh

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3 - The Collector- Balrampur/ Chairman Of The District Level Van Adhikar

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-4-

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Committee- Balrampur Distt- Balrampur- Ramanujganj, Chhattisgarh

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4 - Assistant Commissioner/ Secretary District Level Van Adhikar Samiti- Balrampur Distt- Balrampur- Ramanujganj, Chhattisgarh

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5 - The Sub-Divisional Officer (Revenue)/ Chairman Of Divisional Level Van Adhikar Samiti- Ramanujganj Distt- Balrampur- Ramanujganj, Chhattisgarh

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6 - The Divisional Forest Officer- Forest Division- Balrampur Distt- BalrampurRamanujganj, Chhattisgarh

¶74

7 - Forest Range Officer Forest Range- Navadih (Dhamni), Distt- BalrampurRamanujganj, Chhattisgarh

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8 - Range Assistant Forest Range- Navadih (Dhamni), Distt- BalrampurRamanujganj, Chhattisgarh

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9 - Secretary Of Panchayat Level Van Adhikar Committee- Village- PanchayatGanjar Tahsil- Ramchandrapur, Distt- Balrampur- Ramanujganj, Chhattisgarh

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--- Respondent(s)

¶78

WPC No. 608 of 2026

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1 - Muslim Ansari S/o Islam Ansari Aged About 37 Years R/o Village- Ganjar, Tahsil And P.S.- Ramchandrapur, Distt- Balrampur- Ramanujganj (C.G.)

¶80

--- Petitioner(s)

¶81

Versus

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1 - State Of Chhattisgarh Through The Department Of Revenue, Mahanadi Bhawan- New Raipur, Distt- Raipur (C.G.)

¶83

2 - The Secretary Department Of Forest Mahanadi Bhawan New Raipur DisttRaipur (C.G.)

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3 - The Collector- Balrampur/ Chairman Of The District Level Van Adhikar Committee- Balrampur Distt- Balrampur- Ramanujganj (C.G.)

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4 - Assistant Commissioner/ Secretary District Level Van Adhikar Samiti- Balrampur Distt- Balrampur- Ramanujganj (C.G.)

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5 - The Sub-Divisional Officer (Revenue)/ Chairman Of Divisional Level Van Adhikar Samiti- Ramanujganj Distt- Balrampur- Ramanujganj (C.G.)

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6 - The Divisional Forest Officer- Forest Division- Balrampur Distt- BalrampurRamanujganj (C.G.)

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7 - Forest Range Officer Forest Range- Navadih (Dhamni), Distt- BalrampurRamanujganj (C.G.)

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8 - Range Assistant Forest Range- Navadih, Distt- Balrampur- Ramanujganj (C.G.)

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9 - Secretary Of Panchayat Level Van Adhikar Committee- Village- PanchayatGanjar Tahsil- Ramchandrapur, Distt- Balrampur- Ramanujganj (C.G.)

¶91

... Respondents

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For Petitioners : Mr. A.N. Pandey, Advocate For respective respondents : Mr. Vinay Pandey, Dy.A.G. along with Mr. Shreyansh Mehta, PL and Mr. Anand Dadariya, Advocate

¶93

Hon'ble Shri Justice Rakesh Mohan Pandey Order on Board

¶94

10.02.2026

¶95

Heard.

¶96

The petitioners have filed these petitions seeking a relief that applications/representations moved before the Collector for grant of forest right in accordance with Forest Rights Act, 2006 have not been decided till date.

¶97

Mr. A.N. Pandey, learned counsel appearing for the petitioners would submit that the petitioners made applications/representations before the Collector Balrampur for grant of forest right on 08.08.2025 & 11.08.2025 but till date, no decision has been taken. He would further submit that the respondent authorities are compelling the petitioners to vacate the land in which they are in possession since long. He would contend that a direction may be issued to the concerned Collector to decide pending representations/applications within a stipulated time and for said period, the possession of the petitioners may be secured.

¶98

On the other hand, learned counsels appearing for the respective respondents would submit that pending applications/representations made by the petitioners would be decided expeditiously preferably within a period of three days from today.

¶99

Heard.

¶100

Taking into consideration the submissions advanced by the Advocates

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-6-

¶102

appearing for the respondents, these petitions are disposed of with a direction to the concerned Collector to decide pending applications/representations moved by the petitioners within a period of three days. For a period of three days or till decision is taken, no coercive action shall be taken against the petitioners.

¶103

With the aforesaid observation(s)/direction(s), these petitions are

¶104

disposed of .

¶105

Sd/(Rakesh Mohan Pandey) Judge

¶106

Rekha

Kalam Ansari v. State of Chhattisgarh

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

Kalam Ansari v. State of Chhattisgarh

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

Why is it important?

What the court decided

Issues for consideration

Statutes considered

Procedural history

Parties & counsel

Coram

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