Jharkhand News : In a major development in the RIMS land encroachment case, the Anti Corruption Bureau Jharkhand (ACB) has registered an FIR and initiated a formal investigation into the illegal occupation of land belonging to Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS).
The FIR was lodged at the Ranchi branch of ACB following strict directions from the Jharkhand High Court, which took a tough stand on large-scale encroachment of government land and alleged collusion by officials.
⚖️ High Court Orders Probe Against Officials
The case was heard by a division bench comprising Chief Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan and Justice Rajesh Shankar. The court not only ordered the removal of illegal encroachments but also directed the ACB to investigate officials whose alleged complicity enabled unlawful construction on RIMS land.
The court clarified that while affected residents whose illegal structures are being demolished may receive compensation, the entire compensation amount must be recovered from guilty officials and builders, not from the state exchequer.
🔍 Officials Under Scanner
According to court observations, multi-storey residential buildings, shops, parks and even religious structures were constructed on government land with the active involvement of officials. The ACB probe will cover:
-
Officials who manipulated revenue records to convert government land into private ownership
-
Those who issued rent receipts or loan clearance certificates illegally
-
Officers who approved building plans for unauthorized constructions
Builders and beneficiaries of the illegal constructions will also be examined.
🏗️ Over 7 Acres of Encroached Land
The case pertains to more than seven acres of RIMS-acquired land, originally acquired during 1964–65. A report submitted by the Jharkhand State Legal Services Authority (JHALSA) revealed that illegal constructions had mushroomed on the land and flats were even sold to unsuspecting buyers.
Based on this report, the High Court directed the district administration to remove encroachments within 72 hours, following which an aggressive eviction drive is currently underway in Ranchi.
