1 2026:CGHC:12891 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR WPC No. 996 of 2026 Laxman S/o Anath Aged About 50 Years R/o Village Kandari, Police Station Chando And Tahsil - Kusmi, District Balrampur-Ramanujganj Chhattisgarh ... Petitioner. Versus 1. State Of Chhattisgarh Through The Secretary, Department Of Revenue, Mahanadi Bhavan, Mantralaya, Atal Nagar, Nawa Raipur, District Raipur Chhattisgarh 2. State Of Chhattisgarh Through The Secretary, Department Of Forest, Mahanadi Bhavan, Mantralaya, Atal Nagar, Nawa Raipur, District Raipur Chhattisgarh 3. The Collector, Balrampur District Balrampur-Ramanujganj Chhattisgarh 4. Sub Divisional Forest Officer (Dfo) Balrampur Forest Division, Balrampur, District Balrampur-Ramanujganj Chhattisgarh 5. Sub-Divisional Officer (Revenue) Balrampur, District Balrampur-Ramanujganj Chhattisgarh 6. Forest Range Officer Forest Range Balrampur, District Balrampur-Ramanujganj Chhattisgarh ... Respondents. (cause title downloaded from CIS Periphery) For Petitioner : Mr. Rishikant Mahobia, Advocate. For State : Mr. Sabyasachi Choubey, GA. (Hon’ble Shri Justice Naresh Kumar Chandravanshi ) Order on Board 18/03/2026 Digitally signed by AJAY KUMAR DWIVEDI DN: cn=AJAY KUMAR DWIVEDI, ou=HIGH COURT, o=HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH, st=Chhattisgarh, c=IN Date: 2026.03.19 12:04:05 +0530 2 1. This Writ Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India has been filed for the followings reliefs:- "10.1 That this Hon'ble Court may kindly be pleased to Quash and set aside the impugned notice dated 12.02.2026 and 08.07.2025 issued by the Respondent Forest Department in relation to the land situated in Compartment No. P-3172, Village Kandari, Police Station- Chando and Tahsil - Kusmi, District - Balrampur- Ramanujganj (C.G.) being illegal, arbitrary, violative of the principles of natural justice, and without authority of law. 10.2 That, this Hon'ble Court may kindly be pleased to dispose of this matter by directing the respondent authority to consider and decide the application of the petitioner filed before the them for grant of Van Adhikar Patta in respect of said within some stipulated period. 10.3 That, this Hon'ble Court may kindly be pleased to grant any other reliefs), which is deemed fit and proper in the aforesaid facts and circumstances of the case." 2. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner, along with his family members, has been residing on the land situated in Compartment No. P-3172 for more than 40–50 years. The petitioner has constructed a permanent/semi-permanent house on the said land using his own resources. Furthermore, various government authorities have acknowledged their possession by providing essential civic amenities, including a borewell for water, an electricity connection, Ration cards, and a toilet constructed under government schemes. The petitioner filed an application before the Collector, Balrampur, on 08.09.2025 (Annexure-P/2) for the grant of a Forest Right Patta on various grounds. However, said application has not been decided by the Authority. Counsel submits that instead of issuing the Patta, a notice was issued to the petitioner on 12.02.2026 (Annexure-P/1) by Respondent No. 6 3 for vacating the land. In view of such submission, counsel prays that this petition may be disposed of at this stage with a direction to Respondent No. 3-Collector, Balrampur to decide the petitioner’s application (Annexure-P/2) expeditiously within a stipulated time-frame. Counsel further prays that interim protection be granted to the petitioner until a final decision of the said application. 3. Learned State counsel submits that application filed by the petitioner will be decided in accordance with law. 4. Having considered the limited prayer made by the petitioner, without entering into the merits of the case, at this stage, this writ petition is disposed of and Respondent No. 3/Competent Authority is directed to decide the petitioner's application dated 08.09.2025 (Annexure-P/2) for the grant of a Forest Rights Patta expeditiously, preferably within a period of 60 days from the date of submission/receipt of a copy of this order. The petitioner shall submit said copy within 15 days from today. 5. It is further ordered that till decision on the petitioner's application (Annexure-P/2), no coercive steps shall be taken against the petitioner regarding the eviction from existing land. 6. With the aforesaid observation and direction, this petition is disposed of. Sd/- (Naresh Kumar Chandravanshi) Judge Ajay