2026:JHHC:19476 1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI WP(C) No.4530 of 2026 ----- 1. Santosh Kumar Pathak, Aged about 46 years, S/O late Jaygovind Pathak Resident of village Lodheya, P.O Bichkila P.S. Pratappur District- Chatra Jharkhand - 825404. 2. Niranjan Kumar Pathak, Aged about 41 years, S/O late Jaygovind Pathak Resident of village Lodheya, P.O Bichkila P.S. Pratappur District- Chatra Jharkhand - 825404. 3. Dipak Kumar Pathak, Aged about 36 years, S/O late Arvind Pathak Resident of village Lodheya, P.O Bichkila P.S. Pratappur District-Chatra Jharkhand - 825404. 4. Pramod Kumar Pathak Aged about 63 Son of late Sitaram Pathak Resident of village Lodhea, P.O Bichkila P.S. Pratappur District- Chatra Jharkhand - 825404 5. Rabindar Pathak Aged about 56 Son of late Sitaram Pathak Resident of village Lodheya, P.O Bichkila P.S. Pratappur District- Chatra Jharkhand - 825404 … Petitioner(s). Versus 1. State of Jharkhand, through Secretary Forest Department Government of Jharkhand, P.O. and P.S. Doranda, District Ranchi. 2. The Principal Chief Conservator of Forest, Government of Jharkhand, Van Bhawan, Doranda, P.O. and P.S. Doranda, District Ranchi. 3. The Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forest cum- Managing Director, Jharkhand State Forest Development Corporation Ltd., Van Bhawan, Doranda, P.O. and P.S. Doranda, District Ranchi. 4. The Chief Conservator of Forest, Government of Jharkhand, Van Bhawan, Doranda, P.O. and P.S. Doranda, District Ranchi. 5. The Conservator of Forest, Forest Department, Chatra, P.Ο., P.S. and District Chatra. 6. The Deputy Conservator of Forest, Forest Department, Chatra, P.O., P.S. and District Chatra. 7. The Divisional Forest Officer, North Forest Division, P.O., P.S. and District Chatra. 8. The Deputy Commissioner, Chatra, P.O., P.S. and District Chatra. 9. Additional Collector, Chatra, P.O., P.S. and District Chatra. 10. The Sub-Divisional Officer, Chatra, P.O., P.S. and District Chatra. 11. The Circle Officer, Pratap-pur, P.O. and P.S. Pratap-pur, District Chatra … Respondent(s). CORAM : SRI ANANDA SEN, J. ------ For the Petitioner(s) : Ms. Kismanti Minj, Advocate Mr. Jinid Seteng Horo, Advocate For the State : Mrs. Moushmi Chatterjee, AC to GA-V 2026:JHHC:19476 2 …...... 02 /03.07.2026: Heard the learned counsel representing the petitioners and the learned counsel representing the respondents. 2. It is the grievance of the petitioners that over the land of the petitioners Forest Department is carrying out a project, thus, the petitioners have been dispossessed from the said land. 3. The learned counsel for the petitioners submits that the land in question belongs to the petitioners and they are enjoying the same but the Forest Department has forcefully dispossessed them from some portion as they are making some construction. 4. Learned counsel appearing on behalf of the State submits that the land belongs to the Forest Department and the petitioners have got no title over the same. 5. Considering the submission of the parties and the relief sought for, I am of the opinion that the matter involves declaration of right, title and interest over the land in question, which cannot be looked into in this application under Article 226 of the Constitution. 6. The petitioners are thus directed to approach the Civil Court having competent jurisdiction by filing a suit. The petitioners, if so advised, may file an application under Order XXXIX Rule 1 and 2 of the CPC which will also be considered on its own merits at the earliest. 7. With the aforesaid observation, this writ petition stands disposed of. (ANANDA SEN, J.) 03.07.2026 Tanuj/CP-2 Uploaded on 06.07.2026