High Court Judge Scolds IAS Officer Over Land Acquisition and Compensation Dispute

A senior IAS officer, Manoj Kumar, faced a stern rebuke from a Jharkhand High Court judge regarding a case involving land acquisition and compensation. During the hearing, the judge questioned the IAS officer’s involvement, asking, “Who are you to object to the compensation amount set by the state? How much commission have you taken so far?” A video of the judge reprimanding the IAS officer has gone viral and has become a topic of discussion among other officials in the state. The judge expressed considerable displeasure during the hearing concerning land compensation. The IAS officer, Manoj Kumar, was sharply questioned about whether there was a separate law in Jharkhand, unlike the rest of India. The judge emphasized that the funds belonged to the public and could not be wasted in such a manner, further adding, “You have made a mockery of the process.” The judge also warned Manoj Kumar of potential obstruction of the entire process and accused him of seeking a commission, even threatening to file an FIR against him. The judge also questioned the officer’s tenure, stating, “How many days have you been in service? You want a commission in Jharkhand?” The judge demanded that the officer either comply or face an FIR. Seeing the judge’s anger, the officer immediately apologized. The judge advised Manoj Kumar to stick to his jurisdiction and not interfere in matters that did not concern him, saying, “You don’t need to jump in like a monkey in a brothers’ dispute.” The judge also inquired about the assets the IAS officer had accumulated, vowing to investigate. The judge also mentioned that this was a unique case in the country, and questioned if it was done solely for commission, asking “You want a commission in Jharkhand?” The judge gave the officer a week’s time and warned of further action if court orders were not followed, telling him to forget about seeking commissions.