Ranchi, March 26: The Jharkhand High Court has expressed serious concerns regarding deaths in custody during a hearing on a public interest litigation. Chief Justice M.S. Sonak and Justice Rajesh Shankar took note of the affidavit submitted by the state government, detailing custody deaths from 2018 to the present.
According to the affidavit filed by Vandana Dandel, Principal Secretary of the Home, Jail, and Disaster Management Department, there have been a total of 437 deaths in state prisons and police custody since 2018. The affidavit also revealed that only 202 of these cases have undergone judicial inquiry.
Additionally, out of the 39 deaths in police custody, investigations have not yet been conducted in 11 cases. The court emphasized that a judicial inquiry by a magistrate is mandatory for every case of death, disappearance, or sexual assault in police or judicial custody. The lack of investigations in certain cases is a matter of concern.
The bench has sought suggestions from the petitioner regarding their demands and what relief they seek from the court. It clarified that ensuring compliance with legal provisions is the state’s responsibility.
Notably, during a previous hearing in February, the High Court had also requested detailed information from the state government on this issue. The affidavit submitted at that time mentioned 437 custody deaths from 2018 to 2025, but it was unclear whether mandatory judicial inquiries had been conducted in most cases.
The court reiterated that independent judicial inquiries are essential to ensure transparency and accountability in cases of deaths in custody. It directed the state government to clarify through the affidavit whether investigations were conducted by judicial magistrates and whether the guidelines of the National Human Rights Commission were followed. The next hearing of the case is scheduled for April 30.
Arpit Soni has had a passion for journalism since the beginning. Now he has turned this hobby into his profession. Arpit, who is a resident of Udaipur, enjoys editing and writing news related to journalism. He has worked as a Senior Content Producer in several important roles at Bhaskar, Patrika, Pratahkal, Punjab Kesari, and Times. Arpit completed his schooling in Udaipur and Jaipur. He has been working in the media industry for more than 10 years, and his journey is still continuing. ✍️📚
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