High Court of Jharkhand at Ranchi (Sujit Narayan Prasad, J.), Cont.Case (Civil) No. 863 of 2023 with I.A. 2645 of 2026, order dated 18/02/2026. In contempt proceedings concerning alleged encroachment over land at Gawan, Giridih, the opposite parties (State of Jharkhand; Deputy Commissioner, Giridih; Circle Officer, Gawan; Secretary, Land and Revenue Department) sought withdrawal of their show cause dated 19.11.2025 enclosing the Circle Officer's report, which had been found incorrect after an inquiry conducted under the Deputy Commissioner's direction. The Court granted leave to withdraw that show cause and inquiry report and allowed the interlocutory application. A fresh inquiry report (Annexure-D) with a tabular occupant-wise chart showed: lands said to be encroached by Dinesh Ram, Jivlal Yadav, Arti Devi, Brajesh Kumar and Ramchandra Prasad Yadav made encroachment free; no encroachment found by Lakhan Mistri and Bindeshwar Singh; Baijnath Ram's parcel partially cleared with further demolition stayed pursuant to the Court's order in WP(C) No. 121 of 2026; and eight occupants (Sl. Nos. 7-14) holding interim protection in WP (C) 347 of 2026, WP ( C) No. 409 of 2026 and WP (C) No. 121 of 2026 against disturbance of possession/demolition. Learned counsel for the opposite parties indicated that remaining steps on still-encroached parcels would depend on the outcomes of those writ petitions without further delay. As the Circle Officer had been served a memorandum of charge and departmental proceeding initiated by the controlling department, the Court directed the Principal Secretary, Personal Administrative Reforms and Rajbhasa Department, Government of Jharkhand, to expedite the proceeding to a conclusive end as per the applicable Classification, Control and Appeal Rules. The contempt case and pending interlocutory applications were disposed of, and personal appearance of the Deputy Commissioner and Circle Officer dispensed with.
