Ranchi: The Jharkhand High Court on Tuesday sought a detailed response from the state government and prison authorities regarding a viral video purportedly showing undertrial prisoners dancing in the Birsa Munda Central Jail in Ranchi.
The video, which features individuals accused of liquor and GST scams participating in a dance event inside the premises, has raised questions regarding prison security protocols. During the proceedings, a division bench expressed concern over the incident and inquired about the measures being taken to ensure administrative accountability.
The court specifically questioned whether responsibility for the lapse has been assigned beyond junior-level staff. The state government has been directed to provide further clarification on the steps taken to prevent such occurrences and to ensure the integrity of jail administration.
Expressing dissatisfaction with the affidavit filed by the government, a Division Bench headed by the Chief Justice observed that merely suspending lower-level jail staff cannot be treated as sufficient action in a matter involving grave security lapses inside a high-security prison.
While hearing the case, which was registered suo motu, the Bench questioned why accountability had not been fixed on senior officers, particularly the Jail Superintendent and the Inspector General of Prisons. The court noted that the presence of mobile phones and internet access inside the jail poses a serious threat not only to prison discipline but also to the broader judicial and security system.
The High Court remarked that such incidents point to systemic failure and stressed that responsibility must be fixed at the highest level of the prison administration. It directed the state government to submit a supplementary affidavit within two weeks, clearly addressing key issues.
The court has sought clarification on whether mobile jammers were operational in Birsa Munda Central Jail at the time of the incident, the identification of individuals seen in CCTV footage, and whether any external persons or jail employees involved in facilitating the incident have been identified. It also asked the jail administration to present a concrete and foolproof action plan to prevent recurrence of similar incidents.
In an earlier hearing, the High Court had termed the episode “shameful” and made strong observations on the serious negligence of jail authorities. It had categorically directed that mobile phones, chargers, and narcotics must not reach inmates under any circumstances.
The court had also instructed the Jharkhand State Legal Services Authority and the police administration to conduct surprise inspections of jails across Jharkhand to ensure compliance with prison safety norms.
Earlier, the state government informed the court that, following the circulation of the viral video, the jailer and another jail employee were placed under suspension. However, the High Court’s latest observations indicate that it expects stricter accountability and decisive action against senior officials responsible for prison oversight.
