Jharkhand High Court Calls for Preventive Action Against Re-Encroachment on Public Land in Chakradharpur PIL
W.P. (PIL) No. 369 of 2026
By Navya Tiwari
The Jharkhand High Court recently disposed of a public interest litigation (PIL) concerning alleged encroachment on government land in Chakradharpur, District West Singhbhum, while underscoring the duty of administrative authorities not only to remove illegal occupations but also to prevent their recurrence.
The petition had been filed alleging inaction on the part of local authorities in clearing encroachments from specified public land. The petitioner contended that despite the land being government property, effective measures had not been taken to remove unauthorized occupants.
In response, the State submitted that multiple notices had been issued to the encroachers and, upon non-compliance, proceedings were initiated under the relevant provisions of the Public Land Encroachment Act. It was further informed that, with police assistance, the encroachments had already been cleared, and photographic evidence to that effect was placed on record. The petitioner, however, maintained that certain encroachments continued to subsist, though no rejoinder was filed to dispute the State’s submissions.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice M. S. Sonak and Justice Deepak Roshan observed that if any encroachment still persisted, the petitioner was at liberty to approach the Deputy Commissioner for verification and necessary action.
Significantly, the Court went beyond the immediate grievance and emphasized the importance of preventive governance. It directed the Deputy Commissioner to ensure that the land, once cleared, is protected from future encroachments.
With these observations and directions, the PIL was disposed of.
