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Jharkhand High Court issues contempt warning over 81% jail vacancies

The Jharkhand High Court has asked the JSSC and home department secretaries to explain delays in filling jail vacancies. The move sharpens scrutiny of prison staffing gaps that are affecting jail administration across the state.

The Jharkhand High Court on Thursday issued show-cause notices to the secretaries of the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission and the state home department over alleged non-compliance with its order to fill vacant posts in jails across the state.

A division bench of Chief Justice M S Sonak and Justice Manoj Prasad asked both secretaries to file their replies within a week, explaining why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against them. The matter will next be heard on October 26.

The court was hearing a public interest litigation on the condition of inmates in Jharkhand's jails and the implementation of the Model Prison Manual in line with Supreme Court directions. During the hearing, the High Court was told that around 81 per cent of sanctioned posts at various levels in jails across the state remained vacant, affecting prison administration.

The bench had earlier directed the state government and the JSSC to complete the process of filling the vacant posts within six months. The six-month period had been granted on April 1. On Thursday, the state government sought an additional six weeks to comply with the directions, but the bench rejected the request and refused to grant any further extension.

Counsel for the JSSC told the court that the commission had sought requisitions from the government for appointments to various posts, including assistants, jailers, warders, and medical and nursing staff. The counsel also submitted that the commission could not proceed with the appointments because the government had not provided the required list of candidates.

Taking note of the delay in carrying out its earlier directions, the High Court issued show-cause notices to the two secretaries and asked them to explain within a week why contempt proceedings should not be started, with the matter now listed for October 26.

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