High Court Flags Unprobed Custodial Deaths in Jharkhand

Ranchi (IANS): The Jharkhand High Court expressed serious concern on Thursday regarding 437 reported deaths in judicial and police custody since 2018. During the hearing, the court flagged major gaps in the state’s execution of mandatory judicial probes.

Vandana Dandel, Principal Secretary of the Department of Home, Prisons, and Disaster Management, disclosed these figures in an affidavit filed during a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) hearing.

Key Findings from the Bench

A division bench comprising Chief Justice M.S. Sonak and Justice Rajesh Shankar noted that the state failed to clarify whether it complied with statutory requirements in a large number of these cases.

The affidavit revealed significant discrepancies in the investigation process:

• Prison Deaths: Authorities conducted judicial inquiries in only 202 instances.

• Police Custody: Of the 39 reported incidents, inquiries remain pending in 11 cases.

Demand for Accountability

The court emphasized that the law mandates a magisterial inquiry for every death, disappearance, or alleged sexual assault occurring in custody. The bench observed that the absence of these inquiries undermines accountability and violates due process.

While the state first reported these figures in February, it failed to provide clear evidence of completed probes or adherence to National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) guidelines. The bench reiterated that the State government bears the sole responsibility for ensuring legal compliance.

Next Steps: The court has requested specific suggestions from the petitioner regarding further directions and has scheduled the next hearing for April 30.