The Jharkhand High Court, presided over by Justice Sanjay Kumar Dwivedi, dismissed Shabana Khatoon’s Article 227 petition challenging the Subordinate Judge-I, Ranchi’s order adding Md. Sabir, president of Public Urdu Middle School, Kantatoli Chowk, as a defendant in Title Suit No. 173 of 2011. The suit seeks declaration of title and a permanent injunction against the Ranchi Municipal Corporation and administrative authorities.

The disputed property is M.S. Plot No. 375, Holding No. 218, Ward VI (old), corresponding to Ward 23/13, Khasmahal Plot No. 2048, at Tamtamtoli Road, Kantatoli Chowk, Lower Bazar, Ranchi. It measures 3 kathas and 9 chataks. Khatoon said she bought it from Swapan Kumar Saha by registered deed dated February 16, 1995; Saha had bought it from Manindra Nath Chakraverty on September 26, 1980. Chakraverty’s name was entered in municipal records in 1968, and Khatoon obtained mutation from the Circle Officer and municipal corporation.

Sabir’s intervention was allowed on February 24, 2014. Municipal records he produced included a May 7, 2010 letter declaring Plot 375 municipal property and cancelling Holding 218; a May 5, 2010 request to cancel Khatoon’s mutation; and a March 10, 2010 stop-work notice to Md. Badru. An order sheet dated May 17, 2010, in W.P.(C) No. 1758 of 2010, said an Urdu school operated on the plot under municipal possession. Khatoon argued the school occupied another portion of the plot.

Relying on Vidur Impex and Traders (P) Ltd. v. Tosh Apartments (P) Ltd. (2012) 8 SCC 384, the court held that a person whose presence is needed for effective adjudication may be joined. The intervenor’s counsel and the State did not appear; the court proceeded because the matter had been pending since 2014.