The Jharkhand High Court has expressed serious concern over 437 deaths in judicial and police custody in the state since 2018. The court highlighted significant gaps in mandatory judicial probes, as revealed in an affidavit filed by Vandana Dandel, the Principal Secretary of the Department of Home, Prisons, and Disaster Management.
A division bench led by Chief Justice M.S. Sonak and Justice Rajesh Shankar noted the lack of clarity in compliance with statutory requirements in a large number of cases. The affidavit disclosed that only 202 judicial inquiries were conducted out of the deaths that occurred in prisons, while 39 police custody deaths were reported, with inquiries pending in 11 cases.
The court stressed the mandatory nature of magisterial inquiries in all instances of death, disappearance, or alleged sexual assault in police or judicial custody. The absence of such inquiries in numerous cases raises concerns about accountability and adherence to due process. The bench requested specific suggestions from the petitioner on further reliefs and directions needed in the case, emphasizing the responsibility of the State government to ensure legal compliance.
The issue of custodial deaths had previously been raised in a February hearing, where the court had requested comprehensive data on such deaths and the status of inquiries. Despite the state reporting 437 deaths between 2018 and 2025, it did not clarify whether mandatory probes were conducted in most cases. The High Court had stressed the importance of independent judicial inquiries for transparency and accountability, directing the State to confirm adherence to guidelines set by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).
The matter is scheduled for further hearing on April 30.
