1 CGHC010253722026 2026:CGHC:27674 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR WPC No. 3460 of 2026 1 - Pursottam @ Parshotam Yadav S/o Jhurai Yadav Aged About 61 Years Occupation - Agriculturist, R/o Village Shankarpur (Paraspani), Tahsil Balrampur, District Balrampur-Ramanujganj Chhattisgarh ... Petitioner(s) versus 1 - State Of Chhattisgarh Through Secretary, Department Of Revenue And Disaster Management, Mahanadi Bhawan, Atal Nagar, Nava Raipur, District Raipur Chhattisgarh 2 - State Of Chhattisgarh Through Secretary, Forest Department, Mahanadi Bhawan, Atal Nagar, Nava Raipur, District Raipur Chhattisgarh 3 - Collector District Balrampur-Ramanujganj Chhattisgarh 4 - Sub Divisional Officer (Revenue) Balrampur, District Balrampur-Ramanujganj Chhattisgarh 5 - Divisional Forest Officer Balrampur Forest Division, District Balrampur- Ramanujganj Chhattisgarh 6 - Secretary Gram Panchayat - Shankarpur (Paraspani), Tahsil Balrampur, District Balrampur-Ramanujganj Chhattisgarh ... Respondent(s) For Petitioner(s) : Shri Akash Pandey, Advocate. For State : Shri Anand Dadariya, Dy AG. SB: Hon’ble Mr. Justice Amitendra Kishore Prasad Order on Board 06/07/2026 1. The present writ petition has been filed by the petitioner seeking appropriate direction to the respondent authorities for consideration of his application AVINASH SHARMA Digitally signed by AVINASH SHARMA Date: 2026.07.07 11:22:32 +0530 2 dated 18.02.2026 (Annexure P/3) submitted before the Collector, Balrampur- Ramanujganj for grant of Forest Rights Patta/Forest Rights Certificate in respect of the forest land situated at Compartment No. 5668/18, Village Shankarpur (Paraspani), Tahsil Balrampur, District Balrampur-Ramanujganj. 2. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that over the land in question the petitioner is in continuous, peaceful and uninterrupted possession for the last about 35-40 years. He submits that the petitioner is a landless person and has developed the said forest land into cultivable agricultural land by spending labour, time and money after clearing bushes and forest growth. The petitioner had earlier also submitted applications under the provisions of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 for recognition of his forest rights, however no decision has been taken till date. 3. Learned counsel for the petitioner further submits that the during the period of undivided State of Madhya Pradesh, petitioner was subjected to imposition of monetary penalty in the years 1997 and 1998 in respect of the said land. He submits that the Gram Sabha of Village Shankarpur (Paraspani) in its proceedings dated 24.12.2025 has found the petitioner eligible for grant of forest rights patta and recommended his case for grant of Forest Rights Certificate. Considering the backdrop, he submits that Collector may be directed to decide his application dated 18.02.2026 (Annexure P/3) within some stipulated time period. 4. Learned State counsel asserts no objection to the aforesaid prayer. 5. Considering the limited prayer sought by the petitioner for disposal of his application for forest rights patta, the Collector, Balrampur is directed to 3 decide the application of the petitioner dated 18.02.2026 in accordance with law, in an expeditious manner, preferably within 45 days from the date of receipt of copy of this order. 6. With the aforesaid direction, this Writ Petition is disposed of. Sd/- (Amitendra Kishore Prasad) Judge Avinash