The Jharkhand High Court has instructed the State Government to provide information on the long-pending vacancies in important constitutional bodies by April 13. These bodies include the Lokayukta, the State Human Rights Commission, and the State Information Commission. A division bench, led by Chief Justice M.S. Sonak and Justice Rajesh Shankar, addressed Public Interest Litigations and related contempt petitions regarding this matter.
Advocate General Rajiv Ranjan, representing the State, informed the court that a high-level meeting of the Selection Committee, chaired by Chief Minister Hemant Soren, has made significant decisions on appointments to key constitutional positions. He mentioned that the process is nearing completion. Ranjan also stated that Chief Minister Hemant Soren, currently away for the Assam elections, will officially present the decisions and progress upon his return.
Senior Advocate V.P. Singh, on behalf of petitioner Rajkumar, argued that the prolonged vacancies in these bodies have negatively affected the state’s administrative and quasi-judicial operations. Notably, the first PIL requesting the appointment of Information Commissioners was filed in 2020, yet the positions remain unfilled despite numerous hearings. The court has consistently expressed concerns in previous proceedings.
Acknowledging the State’s updates, the bench scheduled the next hearing for April 13. The petitions, filed by Advocate Rajkumar and the Advocates’ Association, emphasize the urgent need for appointments to crucial positions in Jharkhand, such as the Lokayukta and the Chief Information Commissioner.
