In Brief
The State of Jharkhand appealed a High Court order directing it to comply with an earlier PIL order to construct a road on specific acquired land. While the State had constructed the road on an alternate route acceptable to villagers, the High Court initiated contempt proceedings. The Supreme Court allowed the appeal, holding that the substantive objective of the PIL—constructing a connecting road for public benefit—had been achieved. The Court ruled that such orders should be read purposively rather than pedantically; marginal location changes acceptable to beneficiaries do not constitute contempt, especially when authorities obtained amicable settlement among villagers."
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