High Court Ruling: COs Banned From Measuring Disputed Private Land

In a significant move to limit administrative overreach, the Jharkhand High Court has questioned the legal validity of Circle Officers measuring private lands involved in disputes. During the hearing of a petition filed by Rukmani Devi, the court noted that the power of demarcation is a judicial function that cannot be easily transferred to executive officers via cabinet decisions. The petitioner’s counsel argued that the current administrative practice lacks a solid statutory foundation. Consequently, the court has directed the state government to file a detailed affidavit explaining exactly which laws and rights allow administrative officers to conduct these measurements. The stay is expected to redirect land-related litigation back to appropriate judicial channels.