[Cites 0, Cited by 0]
Chattisgarh High Court
Loknath Sahu @ Pintu vs State Of Chhattisgarh on 25 February, 2026
1/8
Digitally signed
HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR
by ALOK
SHARMA
ALOK Date:
SHARMA 2026.02.26
11:33:02
+0530
CRMP No. 3824 of 2025
LOKNATH SAHU @ PINTU versus STATE OF CHHATTISGARH
Order Sheet
25/02/2026 Heard Mr. T. K. Jha, learned counsel for the
petitioner as well as Mr. Shashank Thakur, Additional
Advocate General, and Mr. Soumya Rai, Panel Lawyer,
appearing for the Respondent/State.
Learned State counsel submits that this Court,
vide order dated 28.01.2026, had directed the Principal
Secretary (Home) to file his personal affidavit. In
compliance thereof, Additional Chief Secretary, Govt. of
Chhattisgarh, Department of Home Affairs, Mahanadi
Bhawan, Mantralaya, Atal Nagar, Nawa Raipur has filed
his personal affidavit on 20.02.2026.
The relevant portion of the aforesaid affidavit
reads as under:-
"1. That, the present affidavit is being filed in
compliance of the orders dated 28/01/2026
passed by the Hon'ble Court.
2. That, the petitioner had preferred the
present petition for quashment of the charge-
sheet with respect to Crime No. 508/2025
registered at P.S. Kasdol District Balodabazar
Bhatapara (CG.) for commission of offence
punishable under Section 108 of BNS and
order of framing of charges dated 04/11/2025
in Criminal Session Case No. 106/2025 and
the order taking cognizance dated
13/09/2025.
3. That, in the matter, an affidavit in
compliance of the orders dated 19/12/2025
and 15/01/2026 passed by the Hon'ble Court
has been filed by the State Examiner of
Questioned Documents / Superintendent of
Police- QD, CID, PHQ, Raipur.
4. That, subsequent to filling the said
affidavit, the present matter was taken up by
the Hon'ble Court for hearing on 28/01/2026
and after going through the said affidavit,
taking into account the acute shortage of
technical and supporting staff in State
Laboratory of Questioned Documents and
further pendency of examination of
questioned documents, the Hon'ble Court
vide order dated 28/01/2026, was pleased to
direct the Principal Secretary (Home),
Government of Chhattisgarh, being the
administrative head of the Home Department,
to take necessary steps in coordination with
the concerned authorities for expeditious
appointment and posting of requisite officers
and staff in the State Laboratory of
Questioned Documents and to place on
record by way of the personal affidavit the
action taken and the timeline proposed for
the said directions.
5. That, in compliance of the order dated
28/01/2026 passed by the Hon'ble Court, the
deponent respectfully submits that he has the
high regards and great respect for the lawful
authority of this Hon'ble Court and its orders
and directions issued from time to time. The
deponent respectfully submits that a set-up
for State Laboratory of Questioned
Documents has been sanctioned by the State
Government in which the following posts are
sanctioned which are as under :-
Sl. Name of Number of Posted
Post post against
Sanctioned sanctio
ned
post
1. State 01 01(Contr
Examiner/ act)
Superintende
nt of Police,
QD
2. Addl. SP. 01 -
3. Dy. S.P. 01 02(1
Supernu
merary)
4. Inspector 01 -
5. Sub Inspector 04 -
6. Constable 04 -
6. That, the deponent respectfully submits
that the post of State Examiner of
Questioned Documents Superintendent of
Police - QD is presently vacant pursuant to
the retirement of the incumbent. However,
the said post has, as of now, been filled up
through contractual appointment.
7. That, the deponent respectfully submits
that the post of Additional Superintendent of
Police (QD) (01 post) is the promotional post
which is being filled up from the post of Dy.
S.P. (QD) being the feeder cadre post. It is
submitted that a process to fill the post
Addl.SP(QD) is under process. It is submitted
that in order to fill up the said post of Addl.
SP (QD), a proposal letter is being called by
Govt. of Chhattisgarh, Home Department,
Mantralay, Nava Raipur from Director
General of Police Chhattisgarh, Atal Nagar,
Nava Raipur relating to posting/promotion
from Dy.S.P (QD) to Addl. SP(QD), Via latter
dated 20.02.2026 and to establish this fact, a
copy of the proposal is being filed herewith
as Annexure A/1. It is respectfully submits
that a DPC for filling p the post of Addl. S.P.
(QD) through promotion from the post of Dy.
SP (QD) would be conducted as soon as
possible so that the said post could be filled
up expeditiously.
8. That, with regard to the post of Dy. SP
(QD), the deponent respectfully submits that
there is 1 sanctioned post of Dy. SP (QD)
and the said post is already occupied by one
Miss. Manisha Dubey, however, in the State
Laboratory of Questioned Documents, PHQ,
Raipur, one Shri Rajesh Kumar Alma has
been posted and working as Dy. SP (QD).
Thus, it is clear that at present, 2 officers are
posted and working as Dy. SP (QD) in the
State Laboratory of Questioned Documents.
9. That, with regard to the post of Inspector
(QD), the deponent respectfully submits that
in the sanctioned post, only 1 post of
Inspector (QD) is there and the same is
100% promotional post which is being filled
up from the post of Sub-Inspector (QD). It is
submitted that since the post of Sub
Inspector (QD) is still vacant and therefore,
the post of Inspector (QD) could not be filled
up.
10. That, as far as the post of Sub Inspector
(QD) is concerned, in this regard, the
deponent respectfully submits that in the set
up for the State Laboratory of Questioned
Documents, 4 posts are sanctioned. It is
respectfully submitted that in the year 2021, 3
posts of Sub Inspector (QD) were advertised
by the Police Headquarters, Raipur and
against the said 3 posts, one Shri Shiv
Kumar Paikra S/o Dhanesh Ram Paikra was
selected for the post of Sub Inspector (QD),
but, despite selection, the said selected
candidate did not give his joining on the said
post for the reason best known to him and
therefore, no post of Sub Inspector (QD)
could be filled up. To establish this fact, copy
of the advertisement issued in the year 2021
and letter dated 17/02/2026 of Sr.
Superintendent of Police, State Police
Academy, Chandkhuri District Raipur is being
filed herewith as Annexure A/2.
11. That, the deponent respectfully submits
that before declaring the result for the post of
Sub Inspector (QD) which was advertised in
the year 2021, on 30/10/2024 1 post of Sub
Inspector (QD) was advertised for filling up
the said post and to demonstrate this fact,
copy of the advertisement dated 30/10/2024
is being filed herewith as Annexure A/3. It is
respectfully submitted that the recruitment
process is still under progress and in all
probability, the said 1 post of Sub Inspector
(QD) would be filled up expeditiously. It is
further respectfully submitted that in order to
fill up 3 posts of Sub Inspector (QD), a
proposal in this regard has been made by the
State Laboratory of Questioned Documents,
PHQ, Raipur and to demonstrate this fact,
copy of the proposal dated 19/02/2026 is
being filed herewith as Annexure A/4. It is
respectfully submitted that after obtaining
necessary permission/ approval,
advertisement for filling up the said 3 posts
would be issued as soon as possible.
12. That, with regard to the post of Constable
(QD), the deponent respectfully submits that
in the set-up, total 4 posts of Constable (QD)
are sanctioned. It is respectfully submitted
that the said post of Constable (QD) being a
non technical post and against the said 4
posts, 2 Constables and 4 Head Constables
are posted and they are still working in the
State Laboratory of Questioned Documents,
PHQ, Raipur.
13. That, the contents of this affidavit have
been drafted according to my instructions
and the contents thereof are true and correct
to the best of my personal knowledge and
belief, based on the official records."
List the matter before this Court on 24.03.2026,
by which date the Additional Chief Secretary, Govt. of
Chhattisgarh, Department of Home Affairs, Raipur shall
file fresh affidavit with respect to further developments.
Sd/- Sd/-
(Ravindra Kumar Agrawal) (Ramesh Sinha)
Judge Chief Justice
Padma/Alok
