Jharkhand High Court: History, Key Judgements, and Everything You Should Know
1. Jharkhand High Court
Founded on November 15, 2000, the Jharkhand High Court is headquartered in Ranchi, the state capital, and has jurisdiction over the whole state.Justice M. S. Ramachandra Rao was named Chief Justice of the Jharkhand High Court on September 25, 2024. On July 23, 2025, Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan took over as his successor.
The first Chief Justice of the Jharkhand High Court was Justice V. K. Gupta, who played a pivotal role in establishing the court’s early judicial frameworks and systems.
Infrastructure & Facilities:
In May 2023, President Droupadi Murmu and Chief Justice D. Y. Chandrachud officially opened Dhurwa, Ranchi, India’s largest High Court complex by area. The new facility, which cost between ₹550 and 1000 crores to build and had several contemporary facilities and integrated security systems, started construction in June 2015.
Jurisdiction & Functioning
The Court hears civil, criminal, constitutional, and administrative matters from across Jharkhand, including writ petitions and appeals from subordinate courts.—
Jurisdiction
1. The Jharkhand High Court has jurisdiction over the entire state of Jharkhand, hearing:
- Civil
- Criminal
- Constitutional
- Administrative
- Service-related matters
2. It also hears appeals and writ petitions under Articles 226 and 227 of the Constitution of India.
History of the Jharkhand High Court:
After Jharkhand was bifurcated from Bihar a new State of Jharkhand as formed and so is the Jharkhand High Court was established on November 15, 2000.This was in line with the Bihar Reorganization Act of 2000, which was approved by the Indian Parliament. Previously, the Patna High Court heard cases from the region when Jharkhand was a part of the consolidated Bihar state.
Establishment
The High Court of Jharkhand was established in Ranchi, the new capital city, on the day that Jharkhand was created. For territories under the newly created state, it began with the same jurisdiction and organization as the Patna High Court. Originally, the court was located in a colonial-era structure in Doranda, Ranchi.
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3. Important judgements of Jharkhand High Court
Key Judicial Decisions
1. Conversion of Death Penalty to Life Imprisonment On July 18, 2025, the court decided that Gandhi Oraon’s death sentence from a rape murder case did not match the “rarest of rare” requirements for the death penalty and instead converted it to life in prison.
2. Accelerated Criminal Reserve Appeals
• Following a Supreme Court intervention in May–July 2025, the High Court rendered decisions in ten criminal appeals that had been languishing for two to three years, including six instances involving death row inmates.
• As a result, it cleared a number of prisoners and made it easier to get bail or release when necessary.
3. Unconstitutional Legislation Strike Down In May 2025, the court declared that Section 22 A of the Registration Act was unconstitutional under Articles 14 and 246 of the Constitution. In April 2025, it also revoked a formal complaint under the SC/ST Act against a public servant, stating that “Adivasi” is not a notified tribe under the Constitution and is therefore not protected by that law.
4. Guidelines for Public Health and the Environment
Citing concerns about traffic and noise pollution, the court made a significant order through a PIL in July 2025 to prohibit the use of pressure horns, flag rods, additional red and blue lights, and unapproved loudspeakers in automobiles throughout the state.
• It also ordered the repair of water bodies, demanded affidavits, and required the removal of encroachments surrounding dams and water bodies (such as Kanke, Dhurwa, and Getalsud).
5. Contempt and Accountability in Public Administration:
The High Court fined and recommended departmental action against Sahibganj Additional Collector for violating ferry ghat orders. It also imposed ₹25 lakh on a petitioner who filed a frivolous plea without going through municipal channels, highlighting the appropriate use of administrative remedies.
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6. Orders pertaining to administration and RTI
• Made it clear that in order for RTI notices to be effective under Section 20 of the RTI Act, they must be sent to both actual and presumed public information officers (Jan 2025).
• Defining the boundaries of judicial and executive authorities in arbitration under the state’s Apartment Ownership Act; ruling in April 2025 that executive appointments made on “humanitarian grounds” without a formal basis cannot be justified or enforced
The Jharkhand High Court is a relatively new court that is growing quickly. The court has developed into a major pillar of justice in eastern India since its founding in 2000 as a result of state reorganization and now houses the country’s largest high court building. For the people of Jharkhand, it still plays a crucial role in interpreting the law and defending their constitutional rights.
With its state-of-the-art facilities and expanding workload, the Jharkhand High Court is the highest court in the state. Despite recent accusations regarding judgment delays, it has been taking corrective steps following Supreme Court monitoring. Its aggressive decisions in administrative and public interest litigation (PILs) demonstrate a growing role in maintaining social and legal responsibility. For more Jharkhand High Court legal updates/news please log on to verdictum.in
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