Jharkhand High Court Orders Compensation for Arbitrary Demolition of Private Building

State Government Directed to Pay Rs 5 Lakh for Building and Shop Demolitions

The Jharkhand High Court has ordered the state government to compensate a Chatra resident for the unlawful demolition of his building.

RANCHI – The Jharkhand High Court has directed the state government to pay Rs 5 lakh in compensation for the demolition of a privately owned building that housed five shops.

The court also ordered Rs 25,000 to be paid to each shop owner for the unlawful demolition.

The building, owned by Rajendra Prasad Sahu from Chatra district, was demolished by the district administration in 2011 without adhering to legal procedures or issuing prior notice.

Rajendra Sahu, represented by advocates Ayush Aditya and Akash Deep, appealed to the High Court, contesting the administration’s actions.

The case was presided over by Justice Sanjay Kumar Dwivedi, who ruled in favor of the petitioner after reviewing arguments from both parties.

The state government claimed the structures were illegal encroachments, but the court found the demolition process to be arbitrary and not in compliance with legal norms.

In its decision, the High Court underscored that while the right to property is not a fundamental right, it remains a constitutional and human right.

The ruling emphasized that property should not be taken without due process of law.

The court’s order mandates compensation for the reconstruction of the demolished property and for the mental distress caused to Rajendra Sahu.

This judgment reinforces the importance of legal procedures and the protection of property rights.