Jharkhand High Court Directs Principal Secy To File Personal Affidavit Highlighting Number Of Custodial Deaths From 2018 Onwards
In an order dated 27.11.2025, the Jharkhand High Court directed the Principal Secretary, Department of Home, Prison and Disaster Management, Government of Jharkhand, to file a personal affidavit indicating all cases of deaths occurring in police custody as well as during police transit.A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan and Justice Rajesh Shankar passed this order...
In an order dated 27.11.2025, the Jharkhand High Court directed the Principal Secretary, Department of Home, Prison and Disaster Management, Government of Jharkhand, to file a personal affidavit indicating all cases of deaths occurring in police custody as well as during police transit.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan and Justice Rajesh Shankar passed this order in the backdrop of a continuing PIL concerning custodial deaths in the State of Jharkhand.
Earlier, by an order dated 21.08.2025, the High Court had directed the Secretary, Department of Home, Prison and Disaster Management, to file a personal affidavit detailing the number of custodial deaths in prison or in judicial custody from 2018 onwards, and stating whether each death was reported to the Magistrate for an inquiry under Section 176(1-A) of the Code of Criminal Procedure or Section 196(2) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.
The Court observed that the earlier order only required information relating to custodial deaths in prison or judicial custody. As a result, data on deaths occurring in police custody or during police transit had not been included.
Accordingly, the High Court directed that a fresh affidavit be filed within three weeks. The matter has now been listed for 18 December 2025.
Cause Title: Md. Mumtaz Ansari v. State of Jharkhand and Others
Case Number: WP (PIL) No. 1218 of 2022
Appearance: Md. Shadab Ansari for the Petitioner. Mr. Gaurav Raj for the Respondents.