THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Ranchi, January 6: Acting on strict directions of the Jharkhand High Court, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has registered an FIR at its Ranchi unit and initiated an investigation into large-scale illegal encroachment on land belonging to the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS).
The FIR was lodged on Tuesday following orders of a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan and Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad, which had earlier directed criminal action against officials whose collusion enabled illegal constructions on government land acquired for RIMS more than five decades ago.
The High Court had made it clear that while illegal encroachments must be removed, residents whose houses are being demolished would be compensated. However, the compensation amount will not be borne by the State exchequer and will instead be recovered from the guilty officials and builders responsible for the illegal constructions.
Officials Under ACB Scanner
According to the court’s directions, the ACB probe will cover officials who manipulated revenue records to mutate and register government land illegally, issued rent receipts and no-objection certificates, sanctioned building plans, and facilitated multi-storey constructions on acquired RIMS land.
The investigation will include revenue officials, Circle Officers, municipal authorities, planning bodies and other regulatory agencies whose actions allowed private ownership claims to be created on land vested in the State.
Background: Land Acquired in 1964–65
In its detailed judgment delivered on December 21, the Jharkhand High Court traced the controversy to land acquisition proceedings conducted in 1964–65 for establishing RIMS, including hospital buildings and hostels. The acquisition was completed under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, compensation was paid to all landowners, and the land vested absolutely in the State.
Despite this, the Court found that illegal registrations, mutations, rent receipts, non-encumbrance certificates, building plan sanctions and even RERA approvals were granted over the years, leading to widespread construction within the RIMS campus.
Over 7 Acres Encroached
The issue surfaced in a Public Interest Litigation pending since 2018. An inquiry conducted by JHALSA Member Secretary Kumari Ranjana Asthana, on the Court’s directions, found encroachments over nearly seven acres of RIMS land.
The Court noted the presence of unauthorised temples, shops, huts, parks, commercial establishments and multi-storey residential buildings within the campus, posing serious risks to hospital hygiene, security and patient safety, especially near the girls’ hostel.
Based on these findings, the Court ordered the removal of encroachments on December 3, granting 72 hours to vacate.
Claims Rejected, Law Settled
The Bench rejected ownership claims based on old khatiyan records, rent receipts, sale deeds and CNT Act permissions, holding that no document can revive title once land is lawfully acquired. It also rejected pleas under Section 24(2) of the 2013 Land Acquisition Act, relying on the Supreme Court’s ruling in Indore Development Authority v. Manoharlal (2020).
Wider Accountability
The Court also expressed concern over banks that sanctioned loans on acquired land and RIMS authorities who failed to act despite encroachments. Banks have been directed to conduct internal inquiries.
While refraining from ordering a CBI probe, the Court has kept that option open depending on the outcome of the ACB investigation.
The FIR marks the first concrete step towards fixing accountability in what the Court described as a systemic failure of land governance.
