2026:JHHC:11860 1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI W.P.(C) No.2642 of 2026 ------ Bindu Barnabas Hansda, son of Daniel Hansda, resident of Village - Taljhari, P.O. & P.S. Lalmatia, District Godda (Jharkhand). … … Petitioner Versus 1. The State of Jharkhand. 2. Secretary, Government of Jharkhand, Project Building, P.O. & P.S. Dhurwa, District Ranchi. 3. Deputy Commissioner, Godda, P.O. & P.S. Godda, District Godda. 4. Circle Officer, Boarijor, P.O. & P.S. Boarijor, District Godda. 5. Eastern Coalfield Limited, through Chairman-cum-Managing Director, P.O. & P.S. Dishergarh, District Paschim Bardhaman, State-West Bengal. 6. Area General Manager, Rajmahal Project, Eastern Coalfield Limited, Dhankunda, P.O. Br. Simra, P.S. Mahagama, District Godda, State-Jharkhand. 7. Head of Department (L&DA), Rajmahal Project, Eastern Coalfield Limited, Dhankunda, P.O. Br. Simra, P.S. Mahagama, District Godda, State Jharkhand. 8. Divisional Forest Officer, Department of Forest, P.O. & P.S. Godda, District Godda. … … Respondents ------ CORAM : SRI ANANDA SEN, J. ------ For the Petitioner(s) : Mr. Avilash Kumar, Advocate For the Respondent(s) : Mr. Rajesh Lala, Advocate ------ 02/ 20.04.2026 By filing this writ petition, the petitioner has prayed for the following reliefs:- "for issuance of a writ of or in the nature of mandamus commanding upon the Respondents specially Respondent Nos.5 to 7 to do the valuation from respondent no.8 and make payment of the trees standing over the land of the petitioner over the land being Jamabandi no.06 & 27 situated at Village Taljhari, P.O. & P.S. Lalmatia, District Godda as he has already received compensation with respect to land of 2026:JHHC:11860 2 Jamabandi no.6 which come to Rs.92,070.00/- and Jamabandi no.27 which come to Rs.1,16,40,164.58/-. AND/OR Further the petitioner prays for stay on the entire operation of mining of coal in Rajmahal Project as the same is being done in close proximity of the land where trees have been planted by the petitioner and if any mishappenning occurs entire investment of the petitioner will get destroyed as such the same is at stake at the hands of the respondents." 2. Heard learned counsel representing the petitioner and learned counsel representing the respondents. 3. It is the grievance of the petitioner that the compensation for the trees standing on the land of the petitioner, which has been acquired for the Coal Mines of Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL), Taljhari Mouza, has not been paid. 4. Learned counsel representing the petitioner submits that the compensation in respect of acquisition of the land, has been paid to the petitioner but the compensation of the trees standing on the acquired land has not been paid, nor even the assessment has been made. He refers to an agreement between the parties, which suggests that the ECL has agreed to pay the compensation in respect of the standing trees after properly valuating the same as per the current price. 5. Learned counsel representing the respondent - ECL admits that the amount of compensation in lieu of acquisition of the land has been paid. So far as the compensation of standing trees is 2026:JHHC:11860 3 concerned, he is not in a position to divulge as to whether the amount in lieu of trees has been paid or not. 6. Considering the aforesaid fact, I direct the petitioner to approach the Area General Manager, ECL, Rajmahal Project and Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Godda, by filing an appropriate application immediately within a week from today. 6.1. On receipt of the said application, the DFO, Godda, will assess the valuation of the trees standing on the land, which has been acquired by the ECL, under the Coal Bearing Area (Acquisition and Development) Act, 1957. 6.2. Once the valuation is made, the same will be communicated to the ECL, who will ensure making payment of the compensation as per law. 6.3. The entire process should be concluded within eight weeks, from the date of receipt of copy of this order. 6.4. If the petitioner is aggrieved by the valuation or any other action of the respondents, it will be open to the petitioner approach the Authorities under the Coal Bearing Area (Acquisition and Development) Act, 1957. 7. With the aforesaid direction, this writ petition stands disposed of. 8. Pending interlocutory application being I.A. No.3397 of 2026 also stands disposed of. (ANANDA SEN, J.) 20th April, 2026 Prashant. Cp-2 Uploaded on 30.04.2026