Jharkhand High Court
Sanjeev Kumar Singh vs Sri Avinash Kumar on 24 April, 2026
Author: Sujit Narayan Prasad
Bench: Sujit Narayan Prasad, Sanjay Prasad
1
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI
Cont. Case (Civil) No.204 of 2026
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Sanjeev Kumar Singh ..... Petitioner Versus
1.Sri Avinash Kumar, Chief Secretary, Govt. of Jharkhand, Project Bhawan, PO & PS Dhurwa, Ranchi.
2.Manoj Kumar, s/o Not known to the petitioner, the Secretary, Department of Tourism, Govt. of Jharkhand, Tourist Complex 5, Mahatma Gandhi Marg, PO & PS Hindpiri, Dist-Ranchi
3.Faiz Aq Ahmed Mumtaz, The Deputy Commissioner, Ramgarh, Near Kutchery, PO, PS & Dist.-Ramgarh
4.State of Jharkhand
5.Central Coalfields Limited through its C.M.D., Darbhanga House, P.O., G.P.O., P.S.-Sadar, Dist. Ranchi ..... Opp.Parties/Contemnors
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CORAM:HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SUJIT NARAYAN PRASAD HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SANJAY PRASAD
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For the Petitioner : Mr. Bharat Kumar, Advocate Mr. Sparsh Kumar Rai, Advocate Mr. Rahul Sinha, Advocate Mr. Sanjeev Kr. Singh, In-Person For the State : Mr. Rajiv Ranjan, Advocate General, (O.P. No. 1 to 4) Mr. Jai Prakash, A.A.G.-IA Mr. Omiya Anusha, A.C. to A.A.G.-IA For the C.C.L. : Mr. Amit Kumar Das, Advocate (O.P. No.5) Mr. Shivam Utkarsh Sahay, Adv.
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04/24.04.2026 Reference may be made to the order dated 01.04.2026, passed by this Court in this case.
2. Two Supplementary show-cause, both dated 22.04.2026, have been filed on behalf of Opposite Party No.2, i.e. The Secretary, Department of Tourism, Govt. of Jharkhand as well as Opposite Party No.3, i.e. the Deputy Commissioner, Govt. of Jharkhand respectively as also an 2 affidavit, dated 22.04.2026, has been filed on behalf of the Central Coal Fields Limited.
3. Let the Central Coal Fields Limited be impleaded as Opposite Party No.5 in this case in course of the day.
Statements made in supplementary show-cause dated 22.04.2026 filed by O.P. No. 3:-
4. The supplementary show-cause has been filed in compliance of the order dated 01.04.2026, on behalf of the State sworn by the Deputy Commissioner, Ramgarh, i.e. O.P. No.3, wherein, at Paragraph 7, it has been stated that directions contained in the order dated 11.08.2023, passed in W.P.(PIL) No. 6341 of 2022 are being complied with in a continuous manner and also a tabular chart has been given separately with respect to what has been directed in the order dated 11.08.2023 and the action taken by the State Administration so far.
5. It has been stated in Para 8 that for installation of security and safety barricade from 'Ma Chinnamastika' temple to the banks of Damodar and Bhairavi river, a Detailed Project Report (D.P.R.) has been prepared and estimated cost has been finalized and the proposal has been submitted to the C.M.D., C.C.L., Darbhanga House, Ranchi vide letter No. 589/Vi dated 01.04.2026 under C.S.R. funding.
6. At this juncture, it needs to be noted herein that Mr. A.K. Das, appearing for the C.C.L. has submitted that the issue of allotment of fund as referred in aforesaid 3 paragraph 8 will be taken into consideration positively and preferably within a period of Two (02) weeks.
7. The urgency in allowing only two (02) weeks' time is that the area is accident prone and the monsoon season is approaching and as such to avoid further accidental death the entire exercise needs to be completed before the onset of monsoon.
8. It has been stated in Para 9 and 10 of the said supplementary show-cause that with respect to the direction of this Court regarding due identification and rehabilitation of affected shopkeepers within one month, a Six member committee has been constituted by the State Administration, Ramgarh, vide Memo No.487/Go dated 16.04.2026 comprising of following officers of the State:-
(i) Divisional Forest Officer (D.F.O.), Ramgarh
(ii) Deputy Development Commissioner (DDC), Ramgarh
(iii) Additional Collector (AC), Ramgarh
(iv) Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO), Ramgarh
(v) Circle Officers (CO), Chittarpur and Gola
(vi) District Sports Officer-cum-Tourism Nodal Officer, Ramgarh
9. It has been stated at Para 11 of the said supplementary show-cause that the Committee has been entrusted with the work of identifying the displaced shopkeepers and providing suitable rehabilitation within a stipulated period and the process is underway and being monitored on priority basis.4
10. So far as issue of encroachment is concerned, it has been stated in Para 12 that an encroachment case was initiated, being Encroachment Case No.01 of 2026 (State Versus Sunita Panda and others). The Circle Officer, Chittarpur, vide order dated 11.04.2026 has directed for the removal of approximately 254 encroachers from the government land by 15.04.2026.
11. It has been stated that the encroachments were removed on 16.04.2026, for which compliance report was submitted by the Circle Officer, Chittarpur, vide Letter No.482 dated 20.04.2026, which was forwarded to the In-Charge Officer, Legal Section, Ramgarh vide Letter No.621 dated 21.04.2026.
12. With respect to redevelopment of Rajrappa Temple Complex, a meeting and physical inspection of the site was conducted at Administrative Building, Rajrappa, under the Chairmanship of the Secretary, Tourism, Art, Culture & Youth Affairs Department, who reviewed the project during the said meeting as M/s Chadda & Associates, Architects & Urban Planners, Ranchi (Contractor of JSBCL-Jharkhand State Building Construction Corporation Ltd.), presented a redevelopment plan in two phases for tourism and infrastructure development of the 'Maa Chhinnamastika' Temple Area.
The project is under active consideration and steps are being taken for its execution.
5Statements made in the supplementary show-cause dated 22.04.2026, filed by the Opposite Party No. 2
13. This Court has also taken note of the supplementary show-cause filed by O.P. No.2, wherein it has been stated, in addition to what has been stated in the supplementary show-cause filed by O.P. No.3, as referred to above, that the redevelopment of the 'Ma Chhinnamastika' Temple Complex will be carried out in two phases, which are as follows:-
Phase-1 Rain Shelter, Toilets, Information Centre, Prasad Stall, Bus Terminal, Drinking Water Kiosk, High Mast Light, Pedestrian Bridge, Welcome Gate. Phase-II Ghat steps, Ramp and toilets on Damodar river side, Bhog Ghar, Ghats with shops in proposed & existing RCC shed, Open-to-sky court for Bali Prasad, Cleaning, Campus development & miscellaneous works, Viewing deck at Damodar river side Ghat at Bhairavi river side, Connecting bridge to queue complex steps & strengthening of retaining wall at entry plaza, Walkway and Tree planters, Admin Block renovation (upper and ground floor), Gateway near Shivalaya steps, Entry Gate at Chitterpur side approach road, Levelling area under trees for parking, Underground tank for raw water collection from drain, Landscaping.6
14. It has been stated at Paragraph 10 that after inspection of the site, certain directions have been issued to the concerned persons, which are as follows:-
a. Continuous Ghats and a wide pathway should be developed behind the queue complex up to the confluence point and further towards Bhairavi river.
b. Proposal to ensure openness inside temple must be included.
c. The toilet constructed in front of the main entrance of 'Maa Chhinnamastika' Temple should be shifted to another suitable location. d. The wall in front of the toilet in the queue complex should be removed and proper seating arrangement for devotees should be made. e. Steel racks with bracketing should be installed in the queue complex so that devotees can sit while waiting in line.
f. A certain arrangement of place for washing feet should be constructed before entering the temple premises.
g. The garbage-like space behind an additional wall at the place of tonsure ceremony should be cleared immediately.
h. Anti-slip and strong red stone structure should be developed at slippery locations. i. Narrow pathways should be identified and widened.7
j. The railing on stairs towards the north side of the under-construction bridge on Bhairavi river should be removed.
k. Direction for Immediate stoppage of payment to executing agency (JSBCCL) has been given to Directorate, Tourism.
l. Direction has been given to Deputy Commissioner, Ramgarh that Forest land (1.743 hectares/4.306 acres) previously transferred for non-forest use should be compensated by providing alternate land to the Forest Department at the earliest.
m. Land under Mouzas Ledhitungari and measuring 2.38 acres out of which temple has been constructed in 1 decimal therefore remaining 2.37 acres to be identified and demarcated.
n. Out of total raiyati land (20.50 acres) situated at Mauza Ledhitungri, thana no. 151, Khata no.03, plot no. 108, area about 8.86 acres acquired by Tourism Department should be demarcated. o. Proposal for Mega Project to be expanded with proper site selection.
p. Direction has been given to Circle Officer, Chittarpur to identify land for police station/outpost and hospital.
q. Remaining raiyati land that can be acquired should be processed through district administration and sent to the department.
8r. Direction has been given to Managing Director, CCL, Rajrappa for installation of Head Counting Sensor using CSR funds to count devotees visiting the temple.
s. The registered trust "Maa Chhinnamatika Rajrappa Trust" (registered on 05.02.2019) should be made fully functional for proper management and development of the temple. t. Mandatory use of life jackets and helmets for devotees doing boating in Damodar river." Statements made in the affidavit filed on behalf of the C.C.L.
15. In the affidavit filed on behalf of the C.C.L., the details of the work undertaken from C.S.R.(Corporate Socio Responsibility) fund has been referred to in Paragraph 9 and 10 and in addition thereto the issue of fish ponds have been dealt with in Paragraph 8 of the said affidavit. It is stated that for the present, in the Rajrappa area, neither any such project has been developed nor any mine has been left open causing it to get converted in sump area and it is also stated that the said fact has been conveyed to the District Mining Officer, Ramgarh vide letter dated 09.04.2026, in reply to Letter No.02.04.2026 of the District Mining Officer, Ramgarh, which was sent after the order dated 01.04.2026 passed by this Court.
16. It is stated at Para 8 that the Central Coalfields Limited has developed five mine pits for pisciculture, the details of which are mentioned as under:-
9(i) Religara Pisciculture Project located in Argada Area of Hazaribagh (Jharkhand)
(ii) Gidi 'A' Pisciculture Project situated in Argada Area in Jharkhand
(iii)Bokaro OCP Pisciculture Project.
(iv)Central Saunda Pisciculture Project in Barka Sayal Area, Jharkhand
(v)Karkatta 'A' & Karkatta 'C' Pisciculture Project in N.K. Area.
17. It is submitted whatever fund has been proposed for construction of the barricade of the accident prone point in the Bhairavi river, a favourable decision will be taken on the correspondence received in this regard from the State.
18. At Paragraph 9, the activities undertaken by Central Coalfields Limited under Corporate Socio Responsibility (CSR) in Rajrappa Area are listed as follows:
(i) Construction of community toilet (2021), presently operated by Rajrappa Mahila Samiti.
(ii) Construction of community toilet by Coal India (2024), presently operated by Sulabh International.
(iii) Installation of 21-meter high mast light (2023).
(iv) Daily comprehensive cleaning and solid waste management of temple premises 10 and adjoining market area for which purpose Central Coalfields Limited has entered into tripartite agreement with Ramgarh District Administration and Seva Foundation for a project cost of Rs.2,67,09,984/- for a period of 24 months. This MoU was executed on 22nd July, 2025.
(v) Regular awareness programmes and installation of hoardings for river cleanliness.
19. It has been informed that the area in question is having coal mines where the coal mining operation is being carried out by the Central Coalfields Limited on the basis of allotment of the coal block and as such the area requires more use of the fund from the C.S.R. which has even been admitted by Mr. Amit Kumar Das, learned counsel for the C.C.L. and while explaining the spirit of the scope of C.S.R., it has been stated by referring to Paragraph 8, 9 and 10 of the affidavit dated 22.04.2026 filed by the C.C.L. that the C.C.L. indulge heavily in carrying out the development work in the area in question.
20. Under the circumstances, the Chairman- cum-Managing Director, C.C.L. is hereby directed to work in tandem with the District Administration for the purpose of the over-all development of the area, where the temple is situated.
1121. It is further directed that if any correspondence is made by the District Administration, having been endorsed by the Deputy Commissioner, Ramgarh, the decision is expected to be taken without any delay.
22. The Secretary, Water Resources Department, Govt. of Jharkhand has also been called upon regarding the issue of barricading in the Bhairavi river with respect to the accident prone spot, who has stated that technical sanction has been accorded and now the Deputy Commissioner, Ramgarh has made a correspondence to the C.C.L. for the purpose of making available the requisite amount from the C.S.R. fund and as such the Secretary, Water Resources Department is directed to monitor the whole exercise so that the work of barricading may be completed before the onset of Monsoon.
23. Mr. Amit Das, learned counsel for the C.C.L. has submitted that he will impress upon the Chairman- cum-Managing Director, Central Coalfields Limited to have a public hospital in the locality nearby the temple campus so as to the people who are coming to visit the temple in the summer season may be taken care of in case of any medical exigency.
24. With a positive and optimistic view, this Court, hereby, directs the Deputy Commissioner, Ramgarh based upon the requisition made by the Chairman-cum-Managing Director, Central Coalfields 12 Limited, the Deputy Commissioner, Ramgarh shall identify the suitable land for the aforesaid purpose, preferably near the area of the temple and the correspondence regarding same be made to the Chairman-cum-Managing Director, Central Coalfields Limited for its onward action.
25. Personal appearance of Mr. Mukesh Kumar, Secretary, Department of Tourism, Art, Culture, Sports & Youth Affairs, Government of Jharkhand, Mr. Rituraj, Deputy Commissioner, Ramgarh and Mr Prashant Kumar, Secretary, Water Resources Department, Govt. of Jharkhand is dispensed with, for the present.
26. List this matter on 11.05.2026 for further updates.
(Sujit Narayan Prasad, J.) .
(Sanjay Prasad, J.) s.m.
Dated 24.04.2026