Jharkhand High Court orders State to pay ₹5 lakh compensation for bulldozing man's shops

The Jharkhand High Court recently ruled in the case of Rajendra Prasad Sahu v. State of Jharkhand and Others, ordering the State government to pay ₹5 lakhs as compensation for unlawfully demolishing a building housing five shops owned by Sahu. Additionally, ₹25,000 was awarded for the mental anguish caused by the State's actions, which the Court condemned as illegal, arbitrary, and in violation of established legal principles. The Court stressed the application of the principle of etat de droit, emphasizing that state actions must adhere to constitutional and legal limits, including principles of natural justice. Despite the right to property no longer being a fundamental right, the Court reaffirmed its protection under constitutional and human rights frameworks. The dispute arose from conflicting land ownership claims dating back to 1988, with multiple legal proceedings culminating in the unlawful demolition in 2011, prompting Sahu's petition for relief.