Neutral Citation No. 2026:JHHC:9918-DB IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI W.P. (C) No. 1018 of 2025 Madan Lal Bajaj Construction Private Limited, having its office at Dumka Road, Jamtara, P.O. & P.S. Jamtara, District Jamtara (Jharkhand), through its Managing Director, namely, Gourav Kumar Bajaj, aged about 32 years, son of Pradip Kumar Bajaj, resident of Dumka Road, Jamtara, P.O. & P.S. Jamtara District Jamtara (Jharkhand). … … … … Petitioner Versus 1. The State of Jharkhand, through the Secretary, Department of Industries, Government of Jharkhand, at Project Building, Dhurwa, P.O. Dhurwa, P.S. Dhurwa, District Ranchi. 2. Special Secretary, Department of Industries, Government of Jharkhand, at Project Building, Dhurwa, P.O. Dhurwa, P.S. Dhurwa, District Ranchi. 3. Managing Director, Jharkhand Industrial Area Development Authority, at 3rd Floor, JIADA Bhawan, Namkum, Namkum Industrial Area, P.O. & P.S. Lowadih, District Ranchi. 4. Secretary, Jharkhand Industrial Area Development Authority, at 3d Floor, JIADA Bhawan, Namkum, Namkum Industrial Area, P.O. & P.S. Lowadih, District Ranchi. 5. Executive Engineer, Jharkhand Industrial Area Development Authority, at 3rd Floor, JIADA Bhawan, Namkum, Namkum Industrial Area, P.O. & P.S. Lowadih, District Ranchi. ... Respondents --------- CORAM: HON’BLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE RAJESH SHANKAR --------- For the Petitioner: Mr. Indrajit Sinha, Advocate Mr. Vipul Poddar, Advocate Ms. Sugandha Jaiswal Poddar, Advocate For the State: Mr. Piyush Chitresh, A.C. to A.G. For the JIADA: Mr. V.P. Singh, Sr. Advocate Mr. C.A. Bardhan, Advocate --------- 04/Dated: 08.04.2026 1. Heard learned counsel for the parties. 2. The challenge in this petition is to the show-cause notice dated 20.02.2025 requiring the petitioner to show cause as to why legal action should not be initiated against the petitioner for having allegedly Neutral Citation No. 2026:JHHC:9918-DB submitted forged documents to secure a contract for the construction of Basic Infrastructure in Adityapur Industrial Area, Phase-I. 3. Mr Sinha, the learned counsel for the petitioner, submitted that the petitioner would be satisfied if directions are issued to dispose of the show-cause notice without acting under the dictation of the State Government or without being influenced by the communication dated 18.02.2025 (Annexure 6 at pages 105-106 to the petition). 4. Mr V.P. Singh, learned Senior Advocate for Jharkhand Industrial Area Development Authority (JIADA), submits that the Authority was not acting under dictation and the communication dated 18.02.2025 and the show cause notice dated 20.02.2025 only suggest that action in accordance with law be taken against the petitioner in the context of submission of forged documents. 5. JIADA is the appropriate authority for acting in this matter. A perusal of the show-cause notice dated 20.02.2025 indicates that the same refers to some direction of the Special Secretary, Industrial Department, Government of Jharkhand, for blacklisting the petitioner. 6. However, a conjoint reading of the communication dated 18.02.2025, along with the statement in the impugned show-cause notice, also suggests that this was a nudge from the State Government to initiate legal proceedings against the petitioner in the context of the allegation of forged documents. Notwithstanding the phraseology used, both the State Government and the JIADA have not understood this as a Neutral Citation No. 2026:JHHC:9918-DB binding direction, but rather as a nudge to at least enquire into the matter and act in accordance with the law. 7. Therefore, the suggestion made by Mr. Indrajit Sinha, learned counsel for the petitioner, deserves to be accepted, and this petition could be disposed of with a direction to the JIADA to dispose of its show-cause notice dated 20.02.2025 in accordance with law and on its own merits without treating the communication dated 18.02.2025 as some binding direction. 8. The JIADA must now dispose of the show-cause notice dated 20.02.2025 in accordance with the law on its own merits without being influenced by the communication dated 18.02.2025. This means JIADA must independently dispose of the show-cause notice after considering the petitioner’s response and applying the principles of natural justice and fair play. 9. Mr Sinha, the learned counsel for the petitioner, states that the petitioner will file a response to the show-cause within two weeks from today. 10. In that situation, the prescribed authority of JIADA will afford the petitioner an opportunity of hearing and then dispose of the show- cause notice within a period of four weeks thereafter. 11. The learned counsel for the petitioner assures us that the petitioner will not delay the hearing and attend the proceedings on the appointed date(s). 12. The status quo granted by this Court earlier is now vacated. Neutral Citation No. 2026:JHHC:9918-DB 13. This petition is disposed of with the above directions, without any order for costs. 14. Pending interim applications, if any, will not survive and are disposed of. (M. S. Sonak, C.J.) (Rajesh Shankar, J.) April 08, 2026 N.A.F.R. Manoj/ Sharda/Cp.2 Uploaded on 10.04.2026