Chandramoleshwar Das Vs the State of Jharkhand — Land Acquisition | Jharkhand HC (2025)

Chandramoleshwar Das Vs the State of Jharkhand — Land Acquisition | Jharkhand HC (2025)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Respondents directed to refer the petitioners' dispute for adjudication under Section 64 of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 within four weeks from the date of receipt/production of a copy of the order.

Issue for consideration

Whether the respondents are to be commanded to pay the compensation due to the petitioners for the double-storied pucca house (Khata No. 22, Daag No. 281, Mouza Govindpur) acquired in Land Acquisition Case No. 25/2023-24, the compensation amount for which had not been paid. +1 more

Court's answer

On that view, the writ petition was disposed of by directing the respondents to refer the dispute under Section 64 of the said Act within four weeks from the date of receipt/production of a copy of the order.

Ratio / Principle

Since the authority is supposed to act only upon a reference, the Land Acquisition Officer has no option but to refer the dispute for adjudication as prescribed under Section 64 of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013.

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

High Court of Jharkhand at Ranchi, W.P.(C) No. 5952 of 2025, decided 10 December 2025 by Rajesh Kumar, J. Petitioners Chandramoleshwar Das and Jaydev Das, stated to be awardees in Land Acquisition Case No. 25/2023-24, sought a mandamus for payment of compensation for their double-storied pucca house of 1300 sq.ft over Khata No. 22, Daag No. 281, Mouza Govindpur, Thana Nos. 659 & 670, Deoghar, acquired by the Land Acquisition Department for widening and strengthening of Shaharjori More (M.D.R-222), Aasbani Alagbara, Dumdumi, Danarbad, Karon Road, alleging that the compensation amount for the pucca house had not been paid till date. Holding that the authority is supposed to act only upon a reference, the Court found that the Land Acquisition Officer had no option but to refer the dispute for adjudication as prescribed under Section 64 of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, and disposed of the writ petition directing the respondents to refer the dispute under that section within four weeks from the date of receipt/production of a copy of the order. Counsel: Lalit Yadav for the petitioners; Manoj Kumar, G.A-III for the respondents. Document uploaded on 11.12.2025.

2025:JHHC:37055

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI W.P.(C) No.5952 of 2025

Chandramoleshwar Das, aged about 59 years, Son of Late Radha Mahra, Resident of Village Govindpur, P.O & P.S. Karon, District Deoghar, Jharkhand

2. Jaydev Das, aged about 49 years, Son of Late Radha Mahra, Resident of Village Govindpur, P.O & P.S Karon, District Deoghar, Jharkhand

…. …. Petitioners

-Versus-

1 . The State of Jharkhand

2 . The Secretary, Department of Revennue, Registration & Land Reforms, Government of Jharkhand, Post Office G.P.O, Police Station Kotwali, District Ranchi

3 . The District Land Acquisition Officer, Deoghar, Post Office and Police Station Deoghar, Jharkhand …. …. Respondents

CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE RAJESH KUMAR

---For the Petitioner : Mr. Lalit Yadav, Advocate For the Respondents : Mr. Manoj Kumar, G.A-III

02/Dated: 10^th December, 2025

1. Heard the parties.

2. The present writ petition has been filed for following reliefs:- “For issuance of an appropriate writ, order or direction, for mandamus commanding upon the respondents to pay the compensation to the Petitioners for the double storied pucca house having area 1300 sq.ft over Khata No. 22, Daag No. 281, situated at Mouza- Govindpur, Thana No. 659 & 670, which was acquired by the Land Acquisition Department for widening and strengthening of Shaharjori More (M.D.R-222), Aasbani Alagbara, Dumdumi, Danarbad, Karon Road in Land Acquisition Case no. 25/2023-24.

B) For issuance of an appropriate writ, order or direction, to show cause the Respondents as to why the compensation amount for pucca house mentioned in Daag No.281 has not been paid to the petitioners till date.”

3. The petitioners are the awardees. They have sought enhancement under Section 64 of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013.

4. Since the authority is supposed to act only upon the reference, hence the Land Acquisition Officer has no other option but to refer the dispute for adjudication as prescribed under the above Section.

5. In view of the above, the present writ petition is hereby, disposed of directing the respondents to refer the dispute under the above section within four weeks from the date of receipt/production of a copy of this order.

(Rajesh Kumar, J.)

10^th December, 2025 Raja/-Uploaded on 11.12.2025

Page No.2 W.P.(C) No.5952 of 2025