Chittaranjan Das Vs the State of Jharkhand through the Secretary, Department of Revenue, Registration and Land Reforms — Jharkhand HC (2026) — LawSathi Research

Chittaranjan Das Vs the State of Jharkhand through the Secretary, Department of Revenue, Registration and Land Reforms — Jharkhand HC (2026) — LawSathi Research

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Prohibited list on the NGDRS portal quashed insofar as the petitioner's land; State's objections rejected; matter remitted to the authority concerned for a fresh order within four weeks.

Issue for consideration

Whether a writ can be issued commanding the respondent District Sub Registrar, East Singhbhum to effect registration of the petitioner's lease deed for minor mineral stone presented on 17.01.2025 without any fine or penalty. +1 more

Court's answer

The objections raised by the respondent-State in its counter affidavit (paragraph nos. 7, 8 and 17) cannot be sustained in view of the settled law.

Ratio / Principle

In view of the Division Bench order dated 01.05.2025 in W.P.(C) No. 5088 of 2018 declaring Section 22-A of the Registration Act, 1908 ultra vires, the prohibited list, so far as the land of the writ petitioner is concerned, is quashed.

Key takeaways

The matter is remitted to the authority concerned for passing a fresh order in view of the settled law within four weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order, because the lease is for a limited period.ratio¶26

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Registration of lease deed for minor mineral stone under the Jharkhand Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 2004 — deed presented on 17.01.2025 over 8.36 acres (Plot Nos. 1200 & 1261, Khata No 359, Mauza Sarmanda) — land still shown in the prohibited list on the NGDRS portal pursuant to notification No. 1132 dated 26.08.2015 issued under Section 22-A of the Registration Act, 1908 — Section 22-A already declared ultra vires by the Division Bench of this Court in W.P.(C) No.5088 of 2018 and analogous cases by order dated 01.05.2025 — held: prohibited list, so far as the petitioner's land is concerned, quashed; objections in the State's counter affidavit cannot be sustained; matter remitted to the authority concerned for a fresh order within four weeks, the lease being for a limited period — writ petition disposed of.

2026:JHHC:3370

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI

W.P.(C) No. 6912 of 2025

Chittranjan Das, aged about 59 years, son of Bansidhar Das, resident of Sarmanda, P.O. & P.S.- Juri, District- East Singhbhum

…....... Petitioner(s)

Vrs.

1.The State of Jharkhand through the Secretary, Department of Revenue, Registration & Land Reforms, Government of Jharkhand, having its office at Project Building, P.O. & P.S. Dhurwa, District Ranchi.

The Inspector General of Registration, Government of Jharkhand, having its office at Dhurwa, P.O. & P.S. Dhurwa, District Ranchi.

The Commissioner, Kolhan Division, P.O. & P.S. Chaibasa, District - Singhbhum West.

The Deputy Commissioner-cum-Collector, East Singhbhum, P.O. & P.S. Jamshedpur, District- East Singhbhum.

District Sub Registrar, East Singhbhum, P.O. & P.S. Jamshedpur, DistrictEast Singhbhum. .......... Respondent(s)

CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE RAJESH KUMAR

For the Petitioner(s) For the Resp.-State

: Mr. Rahul Kumar, Advocate

: Mr. Srikant Swaroop, A.C to AAG-II

05/09.02.2026 The present writ petition has been filed for the following relief(s):

“ A. For issuance of appropriate writ, order or direction commanding upon the respondent District Sub Registrar, East Singhbhum, Jamshedpur to effect the registration of document/lease deed for minor mineral stone under Jharkhand Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 2004 over an area of 8.36 Acres appertaining to Plot Numbers 1200 & 1261 in Khata No 359 of Mauza Sarmanda, which has been presented on 17.01.2025 without any fine or penalty.

B. For issuance of appropriate writ, order or direction upon the respondent authorities showing them cause as to spell out the reason and circumstances under which even after the direction/judgement passed by this Hon'ble Court in W.P.(C) No. 5088/2018, whereby and whereunder the Section 22(A) of the Registration Act, 1908 and all the consequential notification

W.P.(C) No. 6912 of 2025

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2026:JHHC:3370

issued thereafter have been struck down, the said piece of land is still under the prohibited list of National Generic Documents Registration System Portal ('NGDRS' in short) and to consequently, release/unlock the land in question for the limited purpose of registration of mining lease deed under Jharkhand Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 2004.”

The action of the State is based upon the notification No.1132 dated 26.08.2015, which is on the basis of Section 22-A of the Registration Act, 1908. The Section 22-A of the Registration Act, 1908, has already been declared ultra vires by the Division Bench of this Court vide order dated 01.05.2025, passed in W.P.(C) No.5088 of 2018 and analogous cases.

In view of the order dated 01.05.2025 of the Division Bench of this Court, the prohibited list, so far as the land of the writ petitioner is concerned is, hereby, quashed.

A counter affidavit dated 19.01.2026 has been filed by the respondent- State raising objection in paragraph no. 7, 8 and 17.

However, in view of above settled law, that objection cannot be sustained. Thus, the matter is remitted back to the authority concerned for passing a fresh order in view of the above settlement within a period of four weeks from the date of receipt of copy of this order because the lease is for the limited period.

Accordingly, the present writ petition stands disposed of.

(Rajesh Kumar, J.)

09.02.2026 A. Mohanty Uploaded //2026

W.P.(C) No. 6912 of 2025

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