Ensure 100% Voluntary Blood Collection, Set Up Blood Component Separation Units In All Districts Within 3 Months: Jharkhand High Court To State

The Jharkhand High Court passed comprehensive directions to the State to ensure that 100% of blood collection is secured through voluntary blood donation drives and to establish Blood Component Separation Units (BCSUs) in every district of the State of Jharkhand within a period of three months.A Division Bench of the Jharkhand High Court comprising Chief Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan and Justice Rajesh Shankar was hearing a Public Interest Litigation, wherein it passed the following directions:“13.In the given circumstances, we deem it appropriate to issue the following directions:(i) The respondent authorities i.e. Department of Health & State Blood Transfusion Council (SBTC) are directed to ensure that 100% collection of blood is secured by way of voluntary blood donation through blood donation drives.(ii) All private hospitals/blood banks are directed to conduct blood donation drives in order to meet their respective demands.(iii) The respondent authorities are directed to establish Blood Component Separation Units (BCSUs) in every district of the State of Jharkhand within a period of three months from today (iv) The respondent authorities are directed to make all Day Care Centres fully functional in accordance with the National Health Mission Guidelines on Hemoglobinopathies in India (2016) along with the Guidelines for the National Programme for Prevention & Management of Sickle Cell Disease (2023).(v) The respondent authorities are directed to establish a separate dedicated grievance redressal mechanism including Mobile App, Website and Toll Fee Number to provide any real-time assistance for arrangement of blood (without replacement) to the patients in need with a facility to register the grievance in this regard.(vi) The respondent authorities are directed to conduct inspection of all blood banks in the State of Jharkhand in every three months and to ensure availability of adequate manpower as recommended in the Report of Expert Working Group of the DGHS (Directorate General of Health Services) (F No. 18- 85/2018 dated 10.01.2019).”BackgroundThe Court has been seized of the matter for over four years. Despite this, the Court noted that the respondent authorities have failed to implement Objective 8.5 of the National Blood Policy, which mandates replacement-free blood transfusion in the State of Jharkhand. The Court further observed that Clause 2.1 of the Transfusion Guidelines, which categorically prohibiting hospitals from asking patients' relatives to arrange blood or donors, has not been followed, as it is the relatives who continue to be compelled to arrange blood. Private hospitals and blood banks have also failed to organise voluntary blood donation camps to meet their requirements and ensure safe blood for patients. Even in its counter-affidavit dated 13 November 2025, the respondent-State furnished data showing that voluntary blood donation accounted for only 13% of total blood collection in July 2025, which marginally increased to 15–22% in August 2025 and 25% in September 2025. The Court further noted non-compliance with its earlier order dated 26 February 2018 passed in W.P. (PIL) No. 3700 of 2015, wherein the State had assured that Blood Component Separation Units (BCSUs) would be established in every district during 2018–19. However, till date, no such unit has been established in Jharkhand.What compounded the issue further was that the State's toll-free helpline number lacked any mechanism to register grievances or provide real-time assistance for arranging blood for patients in need. Additionally, the Court observed that mandatory quarterly inspections of blood banks were not being carried out, in violation of the Standard Operating Procedures prescribed by the Department of Health, Government of Jharkhand.The matter has been listed on 20 March 2026 for further hearing for complianceTitle: Court on its Own Motion v. State of Jharkhand and OrsCase Number: W.P. (PIL) No. 6062 of 2025.Appearance: Mr. Shubham Kataruka and Mr. Atul Gera appeared in person for the Petitioner. Mrs. Khusboo Kataruka appeared as Amicus Curiae. Mr. Gaurav Raj and Dr. A.K. Singh appeared for the Respondents. Mr. Md. Shadab Ansari appeared for the Intervenor.Click Here To Read/Download Order

Ensure 100% Voluntary Blood Collection, Set Up Blood Component Separation Units In All Districts Within 3 Months: Jharkhand High Court To State

Rushil Batra

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