2025:JHHC:28184-DB 1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI WP(PIL) No. 4971 of 2025 1. Upendra Kumar Singh, aged about 30 years, Son of Shyam Dev Singh, Resident of Gram-Rewaratu, P.O.-Dhawadih, P.S.- Lesliganj, Satbarwa, Dist.-Palamu, Jharkhand, PIN-822125 2. Mukesh Prajapati, aged about 27 years, Son of Nanhu Prajapati, Resident of Village-Pulsuna, P.O. & P.S.-Medininagar, Satbarwa, Dist.-Palamu, Jharkhand, PIN-822126 ... … Petitioners Versus 1. The State of Jharkhand, through the Deputy Commissioner, Palamu, having its office at District Collectorate Building, Palamu, P.O. & P.S. Palamu, Dist.-Palamu, PIN-828102 2. Divisional Forest Officer, Medininagar Forest Division, having its office at Forest Colony, Kachahri Road, Daltonganj, Palamu, P.O. & P.S. Palamu, Dist.-Palamu, PIN-822101 3. Forest Range Officer, Kundri Forest Division, Palamu, having its office at Forest Colony, Kachahri Road, Daltonganj, Palamu, P.O. & P.S. Palamu, Dist.-Palamu, PIN-822101 4. District Mining Officer, Daltonganj at Palamu, having its office at District Collectorate Building, Palamu, P.O. & P.S.-Palamu, Dist.- Palamu, PIN-828102 5. Circle Officer, Daltonganj at Palamu, having its office at District Collectorate Building, Palamu, P.O. & P.S. Palamu, Dist.-Palamu, PIN-828102 6. M/s Shri Vinayak Construction, through its Managing Director, having its registered office at Gram Baida Kala, P.O. Baida Kala & P.S. Patan, Dist.-Palamu, PIN-492007 … … Respondents --------- CORAM: HON’BLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE RAJESH SHANKAR --------- For the Petitioners: Mr. Prakhat Harit, Advocate For the Resp.-State : Mr. Piyush Chetresh, AC to AG For the Resp. No.6 :Mr. Indrajit Sinha, Advocate Mr. Ankit Vishal, Advocate --------- 02/Dated: 15.09.2025 1. This writ petition in the nature of public interest litigation has been filed for grant of following reliefs: 2025:JHHC:28184-DB 2 “(i) For issuance of an appropriate writ/order/direction, including Writ in the nature of mandamus, commanding upon the Respondent-State to provide and submit all relevant documents regarding issuance of mining leases in an area which is in the nature of 'jungle-jhadi' located in Plot No.1217 Mauza Rewaratu, Division Satbarwa, P.S. - Lesliganj, District - Palamu. (ii) For issuance of further appropriate writ/order/direction, including Writ in the nature of mandamus, commanding upon the Respondent-State to not issue any further mining leases with respect to Plot No.1217 Mauza Rewaratu, Division - Satbarwa, P.S. - Lesliganj, District- Palamu, not only because the said plot has been marked as 'Jungle-Jhadi' Land as per 1908 Khatiyan, but also such mining leases has been issued without following the due process as established under law; (iii) For issuance of further appropriate writ/order/direction including Writ in the nature of Mandamus for direction upon the Respondent-State to cancel operation of any such mining lease which has been issued for Plot No. 1217 Mauza-Rewaratu, Division-Satbarwa, P.S.-Lesliganj, District-Palamu for the reason that not only the said area is in the nature of 'Jungle-Jhadi' for which mining leases are being granted by the Respondent-State, but also there is a school as well as residential accommodations of villagers nearby the said area; (iv) For issuance of further appropriate writ/order/direction including Writ in the nature of Mandamus, directing the State for an independent investigation regarding multiple grant of mining leases to Private Contractors by the Respondent-State of Jharkhand in areas belonging to forest land which is 2025:JHHC:28184-DB 3 in complete violation of Forest (Conservation Act, 1980, Environment (Protection Act, 1986), Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, as well as the Jharkhand Minor Minerals Concession (JMMC) Rules and the law laid by the Hon'ble Apex Court in the case of T.N. Godavarman Thirumalpad vs. Union of India & Ors (W.P.(C) No. 202 of 1995)” 2. We are not inclined to issue notice to the respondents. However, the respondent no. 6 M/s. Shri Vinayak Construction has appeared through the learned counsel Mr. Indrajit Sinha, assisted by learned counsel Mr. Ankit Vishal and prays for consideration of order dated 24.05.2025 passed by the Deputy Commissioner, Palamau which goes to indicate that after physical verification of the land in question it has been found that this land is not of a jungle type and is outside the notified forest area and even otherwise the land can no longer be termed to be jungle-jhadi type, the relevant observations as contained in the aforesaid order reads as under:- “ जांच सिमित Ȫारा िदनांक 19.03.2025 को ̾थल िनरीƗण एवं अंचल कायाŊलय के दˑावेजों का िनरीƗण कर िदनांक 20.05.2025 को संयुƅ जांच Ůितवेदन Ůˑुत िकया गया। उƅ Ůितवेदन के कं िडका-06 (X) से ˙ʼ है िक Ůʲगत भूिम छोटानागपुर काˑकारी अिधिनयम, 1908 के Ůावधानों के तहत जंगल िक˝ की नहीं है। तथा कं िडका-06 (xi) के अनुसार Ůʲगत भूिम अिधसूिचत वन Ɨेũ से बाहर है। उपरोƅ के संबंध मŐ Ůाɑ िशकायत तȚहीन एवं आधारहीन है। दाİखल िशकायत पũ छȧनामी है। जांच के Ţम मŐ भूिम का िक˝ को जंगल झाड़ पाये जाने का कोई साƙ नहीं पाया गया। अतः पलामू िजला के सतबरवा अंचल अंतŊगत मौजा रेवारातु, थाना लेˠीगंज के थाना संƥा 274, खाता संƥा 72, ɘौट संƥा 1217 (अंश) के कु ल रकबा 23.49 एकड Ɨेũ पर ˢीकृ त खनन पǥे पर झारखǷ लघु खिनज सekनुदान िनयमावली, 2004 यथा संशोिधत के िनयमों के तहत खनन कायŊ हेतु खनन कायŊ के पूवŊ SEIAA, Jharkhand के 2025:JHHC:28184-DB 4 पũांक 544, िदनांक 28.01.2025 के आलोक मŐ अनुमित Ůाɑ कर खनन कायŊ करने हेतु िनदेिशत िकया जाता है।“ 3. In this view of the matter, we are of the considered view that the instant public interest litigation, for the time being, is not maintainable, and it is accordingly disposed of. (Tarlok Singh Chauhan, C.J.) (Rajesh Shankar, J.) Sharda/Rohit Cp.02 15.09.2025