In a significant ruling targeting administrative corruption, the Jharkhand High Court has issued strict directives to the state government to pinpoint and penalize every individual responsible for the illegal allocation and registration of land within the premises of the state-run Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Ranchi.
Court Mandates FIRs and Compensation for Evicted Residents
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan and Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad delivered the decisive order while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by petitioner Jyoti Sharma. The bench has directed the state police to register First Information Reports (FIRs) against government officials who allegedly colluded with private builders to facilitate illegal land registrations on the campus of Jharkhand's largest government medical college hospital.
The court firmly stated that residents who were evicted or troubled due to these illegal constructions must be duly compensated by both the responsible government officials and the builders. This move aims to provide relief to those adversely affected by the encroachments and fraudulent land deals.
Shocking Revelations and Judicial Scrutiny
In its detailed judgment dated December 20, the High Court expressed strong disapproval of the conduct of the officials involved. The judges noted that had the officials been vigilant during the land registration process, numerous residents could have been spared the hardship of removal from the acquired land of RIMS.
The court was particularly shocked by the silence of the RIMS management while extensive construction was carried out on its own premises. The PIL was initially filed in 2018, yet the hospital administration never informed the court about the encroachments. The truth only emerged after the Jharkhand Legal Services Authority's member secretary conducted an inquiry on the court's directions, revealing that approximately 7 acres of land within the RIMS campus had been illegally encroached upon.
Following this discovery, the HC had earlier, on December 3, ordered the district administration to vacate and clear all encroachments from the premises within a strict 72-hour deadline.
Doctored Records and Continued Hearing
The court order highlighted a deeply concerning pattern of document manipulation. It observed that key records such as rent receipts, revenue documents, and non-encumbrance certificates issued by government agencies for the disputed RIMS lands were all doctored and manipulated to facilitate the illegal transfers.
Despite circle officers having possession of the relevant records, no official came forward before the court to explain the situation. Instead, the court noted a continuous, illegal practice of changing land titles in favor of various private parties.
The case has been scheduled for its next hearing on January 6, 2026, where further developments on the actions taken against the accountable individuals and the compensation process are expected to be reviewed.
