Mail News Service
Jamshedpur, Jan 22: The Supreme Court on Thursday expanded the scope of the legal challenge to Jamshedpur’s declaration as an industrial township by impleading the Union of India as a respondent and directing the Central Government to file its response within four weeks.
The matter was heard by a three-judge Bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice Vipul Pancholi.
During the proceedings, petitioner Jawaharlal Sharma sought the inclusion of the Union of India as a necessary party to the case.
The Bench accepted the plea, formally making the Central Government a respondent in the ongoing litigation.
Counsel appearing for Tata Steel informed the court that the company had already filed its objections in the matter and requested that these be taken up for consideration.
The Bench, led by the Chief Justice, clarified that at the next hearing, Tata Steel’s objections would be heard first, before the court proceeds to examine other issues arising in the case.
The petitioner has been directed to file a counter-affidavit within two weeks.
The court has now listed the matter for further hearing after six weeks, at which stage the case is expected to move closer to substantive adjudication.
The writ petition, filed by Sonari resident and social activist Jawaharlal Sharma, challenges the constitutional validity of Article 243Q(1) of the Constitution and Section 481 of the Jharkhand Municipal Act, 2011.
The petition also seeks the quashing of the notification dated December 28, 2023, which declared Jamshedpur an Industrial Township.
Additionally, the petitioner has urged the court to direct the Jharkhand Government to constitute a Municipal Corporation for Jamshedpur.
The case, registered as Writ Petition (Civil) No. 483 of 2025, has been under prolonged consideration and is being closely watched due to its far-reaching implications for urban governance and municipal administration in Jamshedpur.
