Jawed Anwar Vs the State of Jharkhand — Land Acquisition | Jharkhand HC (2026)

Jawed Anwar Vs the State of Jharkhand — Land Acquisition | Jharkhand HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Direction to respondent No.4, the District Land Acquisition Officer, Ranchi, to release the compensation amount to the awardee-petitioner within four weeks of receipt/production of a copy of the order, the amount to carry interest under Section 80 of the Land Acquisition Act, 2013; pending interlocutory application(s), if any, also disposed of.

Issue for consideration

Whether the District Land Acquisition Officer, Ranchi is to be directed to release/distribute to the awardee-petitioner the compensation amount already released by the State Government for the petitioner's land, and whether the amount carries interest under Section 80 of the Land Acquisition Act, 2013.

Court's answer

Respondent No.4, the District Land Acquisition Officer, Ranchi, is directed to release the compensation amount in favour of the awardee-petitioner within four weeks from the date of receipt/production of a copy of the order.

Ratio / Principle

The compensation amount to be released shall carry interest as per the mandate of Section 80 of the Land Acquisition Act, 2013.

Key takeaways

The assistance rendered by the Finance Secretary and the Principal Secretary, Road Construction Department, who appeared physically before the Court, is appreciated, and they are discharged from personal appearance.obiter¶25

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Land acquisition compensation — distribution by District Land Acquisition Officer — writ petition disposed of with direction. The petitioner's land (Khata No.271/Plot No.2118, 7 decimals; Khata No.272/Plot No.1938, 26 decimals; Khata No.318/Plot No.2185, 20 decimals at Mauza Bara Ghaghara, Anchal Argora, Ranchi) formed the subject matter of compensation. The State submitted that the raiyati status of the petitioner's land and his entitlement to compensation were not in dispute, and that the compensation amount stood released by the State Government, its distribution resting with the District Land Acquisition Officer, Ranchi. Following physical appearance of the Finance Secretary and the Principal Secretary, Road Construction Department (in pursuance of order dated 27.01.2026), the Court disposed of the writ petition, directing respondent No.4, the District Land Acquisition Officer, Ranchi, to release the compensation amount to the awardee-petitioner within four weeks from receipt/production of the order's copy, clarifying that the amount will carry interest as per the mandate of Section 80 of the Land Acquisition Act, 2013. The appearing officers were appreciated and discharged from personal appearance; pending interlocutory application(s), if any, stood disposed of. (Rajesh Kumar, J.; decided 09th March, 2026.)

2026:JHHC:6015

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI W.P.(C) No.2777 of 2025

Jawed Anwar, aged about 56 years, s/o – Late Jainul Aubadan, resident of – Risaldar Nagar, near Risaldar Baba Majar, P.O & P.S. - Doranda, District – Ranchi.

…… Petitioner

Versus

The State of Jharkhand.

The Secretary, Department of Land Acquisition, Government of Jharkhand, Project Building, P.O & P.S. - Dhurwa, District – Ranchi.

The Deputy Commissioner, Ranchi, P.O – G.P.O., P.S. - Kotwali, District – Ranchi.

The District Land Acquisition Officer, Ranchi, P.O – G.P.O., P.S. - Kotwali, District – Ranchi.

The Circle Officer, Argora, P.O & P.S. - Hinoo, District – Ranchi.

The Executive Engineer, Road Construction Department, Ranchi, Road Division, Ranchi, P.O – G.P.O, P.S. - Dhurwa, District – Ranchi.

…... Respondents

CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE RAJESH KUMAR

For the Petitioner : Mr. Abhishek Sriwastava, Advocate For the Resp.-State : Mr. S. K. Tiwary, S.C – I, Mr. Ankit Kumar, A.C to SC-I

07/Dated: 09th March, 2026

1. In pursuance of order dated 27.01.2026, Mr. Prashant Kumar, Finance Secretary, Government of Jharkhand, Ranchi and Mr. Sunil Kumar, Principal Secretary, Road Construction Department, Government of Jharkhand, Ranchi, are physically present before this Court.

2. Heard the parties.

3. The description of land of the petitioner is as follows :- “ Khata No.271, Plot No.2118, having area of 7 decimals, Khata No.272, Plot No.1938, having area of 26 decimals and under Khata No.318, Plot No.2185, having an area of 20 decimals of land at Mauza – Bara Ghaghara, Anchal – Argora, Ranchi.”

4. It has been submitted by the learned counsel for the

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State that the raiyati status of the land of the petitioner is not in dispute. The entitlement of the awardee/ petitioner to receive the amount of compensation is also not in dispute, rather the amount of compensation has already been released by the State Government and now it has to be distributed by the District Land Acquisition Officer, Ranchi.

5. In view of above submission and the factual matrix of the case, the present writ petition is, hereby, disposed of directing the respondent No.4 i.e. the District Land Acquisition Officer, Ranchi to release the compensation amount in favour of the present awardee/ petitioner within four weeks from the date of receipt/ production of copy of this order.

It is, hereby, clarified that the amount will carry the interest, as per the mandate of Section 80 of the Land Acquisition Act, 2013.

6. The assistance rendered by the aforesaid Officers of the Government of Jharkhand, is appreciated and they are discharged from personal appearance.

7. With above observation and direction, the present writ petition stands disposed of.

8. Pending interlocutory application, if any, also stands disposed of.

(Rajesh Kumar, J.)

09^th March, 2026 Ravi-Chandan/Uploaded on 10.03.2026

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W.P.C No.2777 of 2025