Expressing dissatisfaction over the prolonged vacancies in crucial constitutional positions in Jharkhand, such as the Lokayukta and Information Commissioner, the High Court has issued a final ultimatum of 10 days to the government. The court emphasized that if the necessary notifications for these appointments are not issued within the specified period, the state government will face consequences. The Chief Justice-led bench took a firm stance, stating that the ongoing delay in filling these vital roles is no longer tolerable.
Adopting a strict approach, the court has directed the government to complete the appointment process within the given 10-day deadline without any further delays. The case is set for the next hearing on April 23. During the court session, the Advocate General informed that a selection committee meeting had recommended names on March 25, which were later withdrawn after being sent to the Raj Bhavan. The petitioner’s counsel alleged that the government had proposed three politically affiliated names out of a panel of five for the Information Commissioner post, leading to objections from the Governor.
In response to the raised concerns, the Advocate General assured the bench that the recommendations would be revised and promptly resubmitted to the Raj Bhavan. Notably, key constitutional and statutory positions in Jharkhand, including the Lokayukta, State Human Rights Commission, and State Information Commission, have been vacant for an extended period. The issue traces back to 2020 when the first PIL was filed seeking the appointment of Information Commissioners, with the vacancies persisting despite multiple hearings.
During the previous hearing on April 1, the High Court had made pointed remarks when the Advocate General mentioned that the selection process, overseen by Chief Minister Hemant Soren, was in its final stages. Petitioners have consistently argued that the prolonged vacancies in these roles are significantly undermining governance and weakening the state’s administrative and quasi-judicial structure.
