Jharkhand HC Orders Probe After 5 Minors Receive HIV-Infected Blood in Chaibasa

Ranchi: The Jharkhand High Court has labeled the alleged transfusion of HIV-infected blood to children at Chaibasa Sadar Hospital “extremely serious.” On Wednesday, the court demanded a comprehensive status report from the state government regarding the catastrophic medical lapse.

A bench led by Justice Rongan Mukhopadhyay expressed sharp dissatisfaction with the state’s current response. The court observed that merely registering an FIR is insufficient given the gravity of the situation. Justice Mukhopadhyay stressed that the state must fix accountability and bring those responsible for the lapse to justice.

Legal Pressure for Accountability

The petition, filed by Deepika Hembram and others, initially sought the registration of an FIR and the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT). While the court learned that authorities lodged FIR No. 18/2026 on February 6, the state failed to provide clear details on the investigation’s progress.

The court made several stern observations during the hearing:

• Life-Altering Impact: Transfusing HIV-infected blood to young children devastates their lives and futures; therefore, the judiciary cannot treat the matter lightly.

• Inadequate Documentation: The state’s affidavit only confirmed the FIR’s existence without offering substantive progress reports.

• New Directives: The High Court directed the state to file a supplementary affidavit detailing the entire course of the investigation and all actions taken to date.

Background of the Case

The tragedy came to light in 2025 when five minor thalassemia patients at Chaibasa Sadar Hospital allegedly received HIV-contaminated blood during routine transfusions. The victims’ families subsequently moved the High Court to seek justice for the children.

The High Court has scheduled the next hearing for April 21, by which time the state must provide a detailed account of its findings.