Concealing Age, Murder Conviction Before Marriage Amounts To Mental Cruelty: Jharkhand High Court

The Jharkhand High Court has held that a person concealing material facts such as their age and conviction for life imprisonment in a murder case before solemnisation of marriage amounts to mental cruelty under the Hindu Marriage Act, warranting dissolution of marriage. The Court observed that such concealment, in this case by the wife, breaks the thread of trust between spouses, causing...

Plea In Jharkhand High Court Seeks FIR Over Alleged HIV-Infected Blood Transfusion To Minor Thalassemia Patients

A writ petition has been moved before the Jharkhand High Court seeking registration of an FIR over allegations that HIV-infected blood was transfused to minor Thalassemia patients at the Blood Bank of Chaibasa Sadar Hospital, West Singhbhum, in October 2025.Advocate Md Shadab Ansari, appearing for the Petitioners, has stated in the plea that the Petitioners are minor children suffering from Thalassemia, a lifelong genetic blood disorder which requires regular blood transfusions. The petition...

Accepting Terminal Benefits Under EPF Forfeits State Pension Rights: Jharkhand High Court

A Division Bench of the Jharkhand High Court comprising Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad and Justice Rajesh Kumar held that an employee who voluntarily switches to the EPF scheme, accepts all EPF/terminal benefits, and remains silent for years is estopped from later claiming pension from the State. Background Facts The employee was initially appointed as a Chowkidar in the Food...

Accessing Intimate Photographs From Wife's Phone & Threatening To Circulate Them Amounts To Cruelty: Jharkhand High Court

The Jharkhand High Court has ruled that unauthorised access to a spouse's intimate photographs, coupled with threats to circulate them on social media and acts of physical and sexual violence, constitutes cruelty under the Hindu Marriage Act. The Court observed that such conduct amounted to “character assassination” of the wife by her own husband.A Division Bench comprising Justice...

'Abused Power Of His Post': Jharkhand High Court Denies Bail To Suspended IAS Officer Vinay Kumar Choubey In Land Scam Case

The Jharkhand High Court on Tuesday (January 6) rejected the bail application filed by former Hazaribagh Deputy Commissioner (DC) and suspended IAS officer Vinay Kumar Choubey booked by the Anti Corruption Bureau an alleged land scam case. Justice Sanjay Kumar Dwivedi was hearing a regular bail application filed by the petitioner, who was arraigned as an accused in an FIR registered...

Breach Of Compromise Terms By Accused Is Insufficient To Justify Cancellation Of Bail: Jharkhand High Court

The Jharkhand High Court has held that the failure to comply with the terms of a compromise or a promise to make payment is not, by itself, a ground to cancel bail once granted.A Single Judge Bench of Justice Anil Kumar Choudhary was hearing a matter in which the petitioner sought to quash an order passed by the Judicial Commissioner, Ranchi, whereby the anticipatory bail granted to...

'No Institution Can Boast Of It Being Complete Without Respect For Ladies': Chief Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan Retires From Jharkhand High Court

When bidding farewell to the Jharkhand High Court upon his superannuation, Chief Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan on Thursday (January 8) emphasised the need for greater sensitivity towards women and highlighted infrastructural gaps within court premises. He noted that having daughters changed his perspective of life. Chief Justice Chauhan observed:“I have always tried to be sensitive towards...

Jharkhand High Court Commutes Death Sentence Of Person Convicted For Rape & Murder Of Five-Year-Old Girl

The Jharkhand High Court recently commuted the death sentence of an accused convicted of the rape and murder of a five-year-old girl to life imprisonment, holding that the possibility of reform and rehabilitation of the accused could not be ruled out.A Division Bench of Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad and Justice Arun Kumar Rai was hearing a matter in which the accused, Indar Oraon, had been...

Jharkhand High Court Scraps 'Net Charges' Formula For Electricity Duty Levy, Flags Excessive Delegation

The Jharkhand High Court on Monday struck down a proviso introduced by a state amendment to the Bihar Electricity Duty Act, 1948 that allowed electricity duty to be levied as a percentage of consumers' “net charges”. The court held that the legislature had delegated its taxing power to the executive without laying down any policy guidance. It further held that empowering the state...

Jharkhand High Court Annual Digest 2025

Citations 2025 LiveLaw (Jha) 1 to 2025 LiveLaw (Jha) 98Jharkhand High Court Quashes Prevention Detention Based On Station Diary Entries, Questions State For Not Lodging FIR If Crime Was Made OutCase Title: Ganesh Singh @ Nishant Singh v. The State of JharkhandLL Citation: 2025 LiveLaw (Jha) 1The Jharkhand High Court quashed a preventive detention order issued under Jharkhand Control of Crimes...

Prior Criminal Sanction Not For Shielding Corruption: Jharkhand HC Upholds Cognizance Against Ex-IAS Officer Pooja Singhal

The Jharkhand High Court recently held that the requirement of prior sanction under Section 197 of the Code of Criminal Procedure applies only to acts reasonably connected with the discharge of official duties, and not to personal or illegal acts merely because they are committed by a public servant. The Court clarified that the protection under Section 197 CrPC is not intended to shield...

Compensation For Demolished Houses Must Be Recovered From Erring Officials, Not State: Jharkhand High Court

The Jharkhand High Court has recently directed the registration of FIRs and investigation by the Anti-Corruption Bureau against erring officials for permitting illegal construction and encroachments on land acquired for the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS). The Court held that large-scale encroachments could not have taken place without serious administrative lapses. The...