'We Are Living In Era Of Article 21': Jharkhand High Court Questions Detention Of Woman After Acquittal

The Jharkhand HC has held that the liberty of a person cannot be taken away without authority of law and questioned the continued custody of a woman despite her acquittal in a criminal case.A Division Bench of Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad and Justice Akhil Kumar was hearing a writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution seeking production of Rina Devi before the Court for judicial scrutiny of the legality and continuance of her detention.The petition was filed by a social worker dealing...

'Absence Of Signs Of Resistance Not Ground To Disbelieve Rape Victim': Jharkhand High Court

The Jharkhand HC has held that the absence of signs of struggle or resistance on the body of a rape victim cannot, by itself, be a ground to disbelieve her testimony, particularly where the victim was a minor and the medical evidence corroborates the occurrence.A Division Bench of Justice Ananda Sen and Justice Pradeep Kumar Srivastava heard the appeal filed by the appellants challenging their conviction under Section 376(D) of the IPC and Sections 4, 8 and 12 of the POCSO Act, 2012.The...

Muslim Mother Has Preferential Right To Custody Of Daughter Till Puberty Under Hanafi Law, Welfare Paramount: Jharkhand High Court

The Jharkhand High Court has held that under Hanafi law, the mother has a preferential right to custody (Hizanat) of her female child until she attains puberty, subject to the welfare of the child being the paramount consideration. The Court further held that custody of a minor child cannot be adjudicated ex parte, as hearing both parties is necessary for determining the child's...

Jharkhand High Court Grants Relief To 'Physics Wallah', Says Authority Must Consider Reply Before Sealing Premises

The Jharkhand High Court has held that where a public authority issues a notice requiring a person to rectify alleged deficiencies and the person submits a response, the authority must consider the reply and pass an appropriate reasoned order before taking coercive action such as sealing the premises.A Single Judge Bench of Justice Rajesh Shankar was hearing a petition challenging the sealing...

Jharkhand High Court Directs Hazaribagh Authorities To Operationalise Traffic Signals At 20 Major Intersections Within 4 Months

The Jharkhand High Court has issued a series of directions to the State authorities and Hazaribagh Municipal Corporation for improving traffic management in Hazaribagh, including operationalising an Automated Traffic Light Management System at 20 major intersections within four months.A Division Bench of Chief Justice M.S. Sonak and Justice Rajesh Shankar was hearing a public interest...

Intervenor With Prima Facie Interest In Disputed Property Can Be Added As Party To Avoid Multiplicity Of Proceedings: Jharkhand High Court

The Jharkhand High Court has held that a person claiming a prima facie interest in disputed property can be impleaded as an intervenor in a title suit where such intervention is necessary to avoid multiplicity of proceedings.A Single Judge Bench of Justice Sanjay Kumar Dwivedi was hearing a petition filed under Article 227 of the Constitution challenging an order dated 24.02.2014 passed by...

'Same Document Considered For Other Claimants Cannot Be Ignored In Land Acquisition Claim': Jharkhand High Court

The Jharkhand High Court has held that where the same document has been relied upon for granting compensation to similarly placed claimants, such document cannot be ignored while adjudicating another land acquisition compensation claim.A Single Judge Bench of Justice Sanjay Kumar Dwivedi was hearing an appeal arising out of a long-pending land acquisition compensation dispute concerning...

'Cannot Face Adverse Consequences For Approaching Court': Jharkhand High Court Directs Reinstatement Of Contractual Employees

The Jharkhand High Court has held that a citizen cannot be subjected to adverse consequences merely for approaching a court to seek protection of their legal or constitutional rights, observing that retaliatory action against a litigant strikes at the rule of law.A Single Judge Bench of Justice Deepak Roshan was hearing a petition filed by contractual employees of the Jharkhand Government...

Three Judicial Officers Sworn-In As Judges Of Jharkhand High Court

Judicial Officers Manoj Prasad, Akhil Kumar and Ram Sharma were sworn-in as Judges of Jharkhand High Court on September 23 (Wednesday). The oath of office was administered by Chief Justice MS Sonak. The Central Government had notified the judicial officers' appointment as high court judges last week....

Bihar Prohibition & Excise Act Not Applicable: Jharkhand High Court Sets Aside Reliance On Bihar Law In Vehicle Seizure Case

The Jharkhand High Court has held that the Bihar Prohibition & Excise Act, 2016, being a State legislation applicable to Bihar, cannot be applied to proceedings in Jharkhand.A Single Judge Bench of Justice Anil Kumar Choudhary was hearing a petition filed by the owner of a commercial pick-up vehicle seized in connection with Pindrajora P.S. Case No. 18 of 2026 for allegedly transporting...

'Mere Wish Of Wife That Husband Should Live As 'Gharjamai' Is Not Cruelty': Jharkhand High Court Refuses Divorce To Husband

The Jharkhand High Court has held that a wife's mere wish that her husband live as a Gharjamai cannot constitute cruelty for the purpose of seeking divorce under the Hindu Marriage Act.A Division Bench of Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad and Justice Sanjay Prasad was hearing an appeal filed by the husband challenging the dismissal of his divorce petition under Section 13(1)(ia) of the Hindu...

JPSC Selection Row: Jharkhand High Court Appoints Retired HC Judge To Monitor SIT Probe After Candidates Allege Harassment

The Jharkhand High Court has appointed retired high court Justice Gautam Kumar Chaudhary to monitor/observe the ongoing SIT probe over alleged irregularities into the 11th to 13th Jharkhand Public Service Commission Exams, over allegations of harassment of candidates. The high court had in an interim order last month stayed State Government orders cancelling recruitments made through 11th to...