Ranchi: Jharkhand high court on Friday directed the state govt, Ranchi Municipal Corporation and Sadar Hospital to file replies over a petition by shopkeepers at Albert Ekka Chowk here. The petitioners, led by Ranjeet Kumar, said the corporation had allotted them the shops. However, since 2012, the corporation has declared around 25 shops as encroachments and stopped accepting rent. Sadar Hospital authorities have also claimed that the shops are on its land. The shopkeepers said they are ready to pay rent, but neither the civic body nor the hospital authorities are willing to receive it. They moved the HC seeking a decision on who the rent should be paid to, so that their status and liability can be clarified. The matter will proceed after the replies are filed.
