Loknath Sahu @ Pintu vs State Of Chhattisgarh
2026 Latest Caselaw 938 Chatt

Chattisgarh High Court

Loknath Sahu @ Pintu vs State Of Chhattisgarh on 24 March, 2026

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                               HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR

                                                CRMP No. 3824 of 2025
                         LOKNATH SAHU @ PINTU versus STATE OF CHHATTISGARH
                                                     Order Sheet




                      24/03/2026          None appears for the petitioner.


                                          Mr.    Saumya    Rai,   learned    Deputy    Government

                                   Advocate, appears for the respondents/State.

Vide order dated 25.02.2026, this Court directed the

Additional Chief Secretary to file a fresh affidavit with respect

to further developments in the matter. In compliance with the

said direction, the Additional Chief Secretary, Government of

Chhattisgarh, Department of Home Affairs, Raipur, has filed

an affidavit on 24.03.2026. The relevant portion of the

aforesaid affidavit reads as under:

Digitally signed by VED VED PRAKASH

"1. That, I am posted as the Additional Chief PRAKASH DEWANGAN DEWANGAN Date:

2026.03.25 11:19:34

Secretary, Government of Chhattisgarh, Department +0530

of Home (Police), Mantralaya, Mahanadi Bhawan, Nava Raipur, Atal Nagar, District Raipur (C.G.) and duly authorized to swear this affidavit on behalf of the Answering Respondents No. 1 & 2/State in compliance of the Hon'ble Court's order/direction dated 25.02.2026 and as such fully conversant with the facts of the case.

2. That, in the matter, earlier, the affidavits in compliance of the Hon'ble Court's orders/directions dated 19/12/2025 and 15/01/2026, have been filed by the State Examiner of Questioned Documents/ Superintendent of Police-QD, CID, PHQ, Raipur, Chhattisgarh before this Hon'ble Court for its kind consideration and the Deponent most respectfully craves leave of this Hon'ble Court to adopt the pleading made therein for the purpose of this affidavit also.

3. That, on 25.02.2026, the subject petition again came up for hearing before the Hon'ble Court and after hearing the parties, the Hon'ble Court was pleased to direct the Additional Chief Secretary, Government of Chhattisgarh, Department of Home Affairs, Raipur to file fresh affidavit with respect to further developments. Therefore, in compliance whereof, the instant affidavit is being filed herewith before the Hon'ble Court for its kind perusal.

4. That, the Deponent respectfully submits that, subsequent to filing 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 Post Number of Posted against No. post sanctioned post Sanctioned

1. State Examiner 01 -

/Superintendent of Police, QD

2. Addl. SP. 01 -

3. Dy. S.P. 01 02 (1 Supernumerary)

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 of one Shri N.K. Sikkewal.

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 one Miss. Manisha Dubey is working as Dy.S.P. (QD) in the State Laboratory of Questioned Documents and she holds the required eligibility criteria and qualifying services for being promoted to the post of Addl. SP (QD). It is submitted

that in order to fill up the said post of Addl. SP (QD), a proposal in this regard has been received from the State Laboratory of Questioned Documents, PHQ, Raipur. It is respectfully submits that a DPC for filling up 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.

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, one (01) post of Sub Inspector (QD) was advertised for filling up the said post. 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. 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, Chhattisgarh.

13. That, on the last date of hearing, this Hon'ble Court directed the Deponent to file fresh affidavit with respect to further development in the matter whereby, the Deponent has sought instructions in the matter whereby, it has been informed that, with respect to the post of Additional Superintendent of Police (QD), which is to be filled up from the post of Dy.S.P. being the feeder cadre post. It is humbly submitted that, the promotion from the post of Dy.S.P. to ASP is being done as per the Rule 23 of the Chhattisgarh Police Executive (Gazetted) Service Recruitment and Promotion, Rules, 2005 and as per Rule 4 (2) of the Chhattisgarh Public Service Promotion Rules, 2003 and as per the present scenario, promotion from DSP (QD) to ASP (QD) is not possible as per rules, as no

senior category officer is available at present as per seniority.

14. That, with respect to the post of Sub Inspector (QD), it is respectfully submitted that, the proposal has been sent by the Department to the CGPSC for recruitment to the above mentioned post and the Public Service Commission has issued an advertisement dated 30.10.2024 with respect to the post of Sub Inspector (QD), which is still pending and the same will be concluded as expeditiously as possible.

15. That, at the outset, the Deponent respectfully submits that, he is duty bound to follow all the directions and orders passed by this Hon'ble Court from time to time and has deepest and highest regard of this Hon'ble Court and he will take all possible measures to ensure compliance of the orders and directions of this Hon'ble Court in letter and spirit.

16. That, the Deponent has highest regards to the orders and directions passed by the Hon'ble Court from time to time and as and when, any further direction be made by the Hon'ble Court, the same will be complied with in its true sense.

17. That, the contents of the attached Affidavit at Para No. 01 to 16, have been drafted under my instruction

and the contents thereof are true and correct on the basis of the records, available in the office of the Police Department."

After perusal of the affidavit, it appears that although

certain vacant posts have been temporarily filled through

contractual arrangements and the recruitment process has

been initiated, the State Laboratory of Questioned

Documents still lacks the requisite personnel. Consequently,

there appears to be delay in the examination of questioned

documents, which in turn is affecting investigation and trial

proceedings. We, therefore, hope and trust that the State will

expedite the matter at its end.

Let the matter be listed on 15.06.2026, by which date

a fresh affidavit shall be filed by the Additional Chief

Secretary, Government of Chhattisgarh, Department of

Home Affairs, Raipur, with respect to further developments.

                   Sd/-                                        Sd/-
        (Ravindra Kumar Agrawal)                         (Ramesh Sinha)
                 Judge                                     Chief Justice




ved