Jharkhand High Court Takes Suo Motu Cognisance Of Alleged Sexual Assault Of Inmate At Birsa Munda Central Jail

The Jharkhand High Court has taken suo motu cognisance of allegations concerning sexual assault of a female inmate at Birsa Munda Central Jail, Hotwar, Ranchi, resulting in pregnancy and alleged attempts to terminate the foetus.A Division Bench of Justice Rongon Mukhopadhyay and Justice Pradeep Kumar Srivastava was hearing a Public Interest Litigation registered on the basis of newspaper...

Law Clerk With HC Entitled To Advocate Enrolment, But Licence Remains Suspended During Engagement: Jharkhand High Court

The Jharkhand High Court has directed the Jharkhand State Bar Council to issue an enrolment certificate to a law graduate who was denied enrolment after joining as a Law Researcher/Research Associate in the High Court, while clarifying that her licence would remain suspended during the period of such engagement.A Single Judge Bench of Justice Ananda Sen was hearing a writ petition filed by...

Friendly Loan Not Legally Enforceable Debt U/S 138 NI Act If There Is No Consideration To Form Contract: Jharkhand High Court

The Jharkhand High Court has upheld the acquittal of two accused persons in a cheque dishonour case, holding that a “friendly transaction” between parties does not automatically constitute a legally enforceable debt under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act. A Single Judge Bench of Justice Rajesh Kumar was hearing an acquittal appeal filed by the complainant challenging the...

'Shocked Beyond Words': Jharkhand High Court Flags 427 Custodial Deaths Since 2018, Orders Judicial Inquiry

The Jharkhand High Court has held that inquiries into custodial deaths must mandatorily be conducted by Judicial Magistrates under Section 176(1-A) CrPC or Section 196(2) BNSS, and that inquiries by Executive Magistrates cannot operate as a substitute for such judicial inquiry.A Division Bench of Chief Justice M.S. Sonak and Justice Rajesh Shankar was hearing a PIL seeking directions for...

Jharkhand HC Exempts Court Fee For HIV-Infected Minor Thalassemia Patients, Directs Admin & DLSA To Prevent Social Boycott

The Jharkhand High Court has exempted five minor petitioners, aged between 5 and 7 years, from filing court fees after noting that they belong to a disadvantaged family, suffer from Thalassemia, and were infected with HIV during blood transfusion.A Single Judge Bench of Justice Ananda Sen observed that the petitioners require regular treatment and special care, and that their financial...

Illegal Mining In Hazaribagh Amounts To Assault On Environment, Right To Clean Air Can't Be Sacrificed: Jharkhand HC

The Jharkhand High Court has held that illegal mining activities and operation of non-compliant stone crusher units in the Ichak region of Hazaribagh stand established, observing that authorities can no longer plead “institutional unpreparedness” to justify inaction against large-scale environmental degradation.A Division Bench of Chief Justice M.S. Sonak and Justice Rajesh Shankar...

Merely Belonging To Reserved Category Does Not Confer Benefit, Caste Certificate Must Be Submitted Before Cut-Off Date: Jharkhand HC

The Jharkhand High Court has held that candidates seeking reservation must strictly comply with the conditions stipulated in recruitment advertisements, including submission of caste certificates in the prescribed format within the cut-off date, and that mere belonging to a reserved category does not entitle a candidate to claim such benefit.A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice M.S....

Full Wages For Suspension Period Only Granted Upon Total Exoneration Or Unjustified Action:Jharkhand HC

A Division Bench of the Jharkhand High Court comprising Justice Rongon Mukhopadhyay and Justice Deepak Roshan held that a suspended employee reinstated without full exoneration or a finding that the suspension was wholly unjustified is not entitled to difference between full pay and subsistence allowance for the suspension period. Further, the employee would only be entitled to...

No Justification For IT Act Adjudication Mechanism Remaining Non-Functional; Operationalise Forthwith: Jharkhand High Court

The Jharkhand High Court has held that there is no justification for the adjudicating mechanism under the Information Technology Act, 2000 to remain non-functional despite statutory provisions and notifications being in place, directing the State to operationalise the system forthwith.A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice M.S. Sonak and Justice Rajesh Shankar was hearing a Public...

Plea In Jharkhand HC Seeks ₹1 Crore Compensation, Lifelong Medical Care For Children Allegedly Infected With HIV At Blood Bank

A writ petition has been filed before the Jharkhand High Court seeking compensation of ₹1 crore each and lifelong medical care for five minor children who were allegedly infected with HIV after receiving contaminated blood transfusions at the Chaibasa Sadar Hospital blood bank in October 2025.Filed on behalf of children aged between 5 and 7 years, the petition states that all of them...

Industries Cannot Use Public Roads Disproportionately For Gain: Jharkhand HC Orders Parking Compliance, Trauma Care Near Steel Plant

The Jharkhand High Court has held that industries cannot disproportionately use public roads for their commercial operations at the cost of ordinary commuters, directing strict enforcement of statutory parking norms and development of adequate trauma care facilities near a steel plant.A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice M.S. Sonak and Justice Rajesh Shankar was hearing a public...

Jharkhand High Court To Hear Plea Challenging Acquisition Of 1363 Acres In Godda For Adani Thermal Power Project

In an order dated 15 April 2026, Justice the Jharkhand High Court admitted a writ petition challenging the acquisition of over 1,363 acres of agricultural land in Godda district for the Adani Thermal Power Project, and directed that the matter be heard.A Single Judge Bench of Justice Ananda Sen was hearing the matter.As per the writ petition accessed by LiveLaw, the petition challenges the...