RANCHI, Sept. 19 -- The Jharkhand High Court on Friday ordered an immediate stay on the ongoing anti-encroachment drive on HEC land beside Birsa Munda Rathpath, passing through the Jagannathpur police station area in the heart of the state capital. A high court advocate close to the matter informed Hindustan Times that the order came after those affected by the drive knocked the court for relief. Advocate Indrajeet Sinha, who appeared on behalf of the local residents, confirmed the order. "The order was passed by the court of Justice Ananda Sen on the condition that the petitioners file an affidavit undertaking to voluntarily remove the encroachments from the HEC land by December 31," he said. Advocate Sinha said the order would provide relief to those whose houses have not been demolished so far. "The order is not for those whose houses have already been demolished, but for those whose houses were targeted for demolition under the anti-encroachment drive," he said. Following the High Court's intervention, the district administration's heavy machinery and demolition squads deployed along the Birsa Munda Rajpath ceased operations, providing temporary respite to the affected families through the end of the year. Since September 15, the district administration launched a major anti-encroachment drive along the Birsa Munda Rajpath, deploying bulldozers to demolish illegal structures. The sudden crackdown left dozens of families displaced, sparking fierce local outrage. Furious residents blocked major traffic intersections, including Birsa Chowk and DPS Chowk, demanding immediate rehabilitation. This intense two-day chaos and widespread public unrest directly prompted the petitioners to approach the Jharkhand High Court, which ultimately halted the evictions until December 31....