Neutral Citation No. 2026:JHHC:5451-DB IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI W.P. (C) No. 1226 of 2026 Jai Maa Vaishno Devi Stone Mines through its proprietor Sushil Kumar Mehta, aged about 55 years, S/o Sri Balmukund Mehta, R/o- Vill-Guhdar, P.O. & P.S. Domchanch, Distt-Koderma ... Petitioner Versus 1. The State of Jharkhand 2. The Secretary, Department of Forest, Environment and Climate Change, Govt. of Jharkhand at Nepal House, P.O. & P.S.- Doranda, Distt-Ranchi 3. The Divisional Forest Officer, Koderma Forest Subdivision, P.O. & P.S.- Koderma, Distt-Koderma 4. District Mining Officer, Koderma, ,P.O. & P.S.-Koderma, District- Koderma ... Respondents --------- CORAM: HON’BLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE RAJESH SHANKAR --------- For the Petitioner: Mr. Kanti Kumar Ojha , Advocate For the Respondents: Mr. Piyush Chitresh, A.C. to A.G. --------- 02/Dated: 24.02.2026 1. Heard the learned counsel for the parties. 2. Leave is granted to the petitioner to implead District Mining Officer, Koderma as the 4th respondent. Necessary amendment to be carried out forthwith. 3. Mr. Piyush Chitresh, learned A.C. to learned A.G., appears and waives notices for the District Mining Officer, Koderma. 4. The petitioner had applied for grant of mining lease over a plot of land described in the prayer clause at para-1 of the petition. 5. Till date, this application is pending. 6. The petitioner has, however, challenged the objection report dated 28.03.2025 under the signature of the Divisional Forest Officer, Koderma, objecting to the grant of mining lease. Neutral Citation No. 2026:JHHC:5451-DB 7. Since the petitioner’s application for grant of mining lease is pending, we do not propose to entertain this petition at this stage. Instead, we direct the District Mining Officer, Koderma, i.e. now impleaded as 4th respondent, to dispose of petitioner’s application for grant of mining lease dated 04.01.2025 within two months from the date of uploading of this order, after giving the petitioner an opportunity of being heard. It will be open to the petitioner to raise all permissible pleas including the plea concerning the objection report dated 28.03.2025. 8. If any adverse order is made, the petitioner would be at liberty to challenge the same in accordance with law. 9. This petition is disposed of with the above directions. No costs. 10. All concerned, to act on an authenticated copy of this order. (M. S. Sonak, C.J.) (Rajesh Shankar, J.) February 24 , 2026 N.A.F.R. Manoj/Sharda/Cp.2 Uploaded on 27-Feb-26