The Jharkhand High Court on Monday extended the interim stay on the demolition of ‘Kailash Kothi’, a property located within the premises of the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Ranchi, while directing verification of documents claiming private ownership of the structure.
A division bench of Chief Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan and Justice Rajesh Shankar was hearing a petition filed by Khushbu Singh, who has claimed ownership over ‘Kailash Kothi’. The petitioner approached the court after the district administration issued a notice for eviction and demolition of the structure as part of an ongoing anti-encroachment drive on the RIMS campus.
The anti-encroachment action is being carried out by the administration in compliance with earlier directions of the high court to clear unauthorized constructions from the RIMS premises. On December 3, the court had directed the district administration to remove all encroachments from the RIMS campus within 72 hours.
During the hearing, Singh produced documents before the court to assert ownership over ‘Kailash Kothi’ and contended that the property was never acquired by RIMS. Taking note of the claim, the bench directed the Deputy Commissioner to verify the documents submitted by the petitioner.
The court also asked the Deputy Commissioner to place on record the gazette notification relating to plot number 1,694 of Morabadi Mauja, on which ‘Kailash Kothi’ is stated to have been constructed.
In view of the pending verification, the high court extended the stay on demolition, allowing the authorities time to examine the ownership claim and place the relevant records before the court.
