2026:JHHC:1929 1 W.P.(C) No. 6191 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI W.P.(C) No. 6191 of 2025 Kuldeep Das aged about 44 years, Son of Lakhan Das, Resident of village Khuntidand, P.O. Tainsera, P.S. Simdega, District Simdega (Jharkhand) ….........Petitioner(s) Vrs. 1.The State of Jharkhand 2.The Divisional Forest Officer cum Authorised Officer, Khunti Forest Division, P.O. & P.S. & District Khunti. 3.The District Forest Officer, Khunti, P.O. & P.S. & District Khunti 4.The Forest Range Officer, Tapkara Forest Range, P.O. & P.S. Tapkara, District Khunti .......... Respondent(s) ….... CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE RAJESH KUMAR For the Petitioner(s) : Mr. Gaurav, Advocate For the Resp.-State : Mr. Achyut Keshav, AAG-V 05/27.01.2026 The writ petition has been filed for the following relief(s):- i) For issuance of appropriate Writ(s) /Order (s) /Direction(s) upon the respondents to release the vehicle bearing Registration No. JH01FG-8523 in favour of petitioner, which was illegally seized by Forest Range Officer, Tapkara and unnecessary kept inside the open premises of Torpa Police station without any rhymes and reasons in connection with complaint (Forest) Case No.47/2024. ii) For issuance of appropriate Writ(s) /Order (s) /Direction(s) for quashing /setting aside the entire proceeding of Confiscating Case No. 95/2024(Annexure- 4) initiated against the petitioner's vehicle bearing Registration No. JH01FG-8523 pending before the Learned Divisional Forest Officer-cum-Authorised Officer, Forest Division, Khunti without any reason to believe that the forest offence has been committed with respect to any forest produces.” 2. The initiation of the confiscation proceeding being Confiscation Case No. 95 of 2024 (Annexure-4) has been challenged stating that no forest offence has been committed. 2026:JHHC:1929 2 W.P.(C) No. 6191 of 2025 3. Since the confiscation proceeding has been initiated by the competent authority, this Court is not inclined to look into the merit of the case at this stage. However, the petitioner is at liberty to file his reply in the said proceeding and if any such reply is filed, Respondent authorities are directed to culminate the proceeding as early as possible, preferably within four weeks from the date of receipt / production of copy of this order. 4. With the aforesaid observation, the present writ petition is disposed of. (Rajesh Kumar, J.) 27.01.2026 A. Mohanty Uploaded ____/____/2026