2026:JHHC:25875 1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI W.P.(C) No.6653 of 2026 Mantu Mahto, aged about-51 years, S/o Late Doman Mahto, R/o-House No.-74, Ward No.-8, Ichapur, Gwalapara, Adityapur, P.O.-Adityapur, P.S.-R.I.T., District-Seraikela-Kharsawan. …. Petitioner(s) Versus 1. The State of Jharkhand 2. The Deputy Commissioner, P.O. and P.S.-Seraikela-Kharsawan, District-Seraikela-Kharsawan. 3. The Collector-cum-Circle Officer, Gamhariya, P.O. and P.S.- Gamhariya, District-Seraikela-Kharsawan. … Respondent(s) -------- CORAM: SRI ANANDA SEN, J. ------ For the Petitioner(s) : Mr. Santosh Kumar, Advocate For the State : Mr. Rituraj, AC to SC-VI ------ 3/27.08.2026 Heard learned counsel representing the parties. 2. This is an urgent matter and this case has been listed after mentioning. Defects pointed by the office is ignored. 3. After going through the record and after hearing the parties, I am inclined to dispose of this writ petition. 4. Considering the nature of the order which I intend to pass, it is not necessary to direct the respondents to file a counter affidavit. 5. The petitioner is challenging Annexure-3, which is a notice. The notice is not addressed to the petitioner. It is addressed as “Mr. Unknown S/o ………. Resident of Adityapur, P.S. Adityapur, Dist. Seraikella-Kharsawan, Jharkhand. 6. Further in the notice, though the nature of the land has been mentioned but the ward number is missing. These types of notices, which are addressed to unknown cannot be said to be a proper notice addressed to any particular person. Thus, the notice dated 04.08.2026 (Annexure-3) is set-aside. 2026:JHHC:25875 2 7. Respondents are directed to issue fresh notice, if they want to evict the petitioner from any encroachment of any public land. The notice should be addressed to the petitioner furnishing details of the land. 8. It is made clear that only after passing a final order in the encroachment proceeding, the encroacher can be dispossessed. 8. With this observation, this writ petition is disposed of. Pending I.A., if any also stand disposed of. (ANANDA SEN, J.) 27.08.2026 R.Kumar Uploaded on 02.09.2026