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Jharkhand High Court
Mina Kumari & Ors vs The State Of Jharkhand Through The Chief ... on 7 April, 2026
Author: Deepak Roshan
Bench: Deepak Roshan
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI
W.P.(S) No. 582 of 2023
Mina Kumari & Ors. ... ... Petitioner(s)
Versus
The State of Jharkhand through the Chief Secretary and Ors.
... ... Respondent(s)
With
W.P(S) No.6775 of 2018, W.P(S) No.1204/2019, W.P(S) No.111/2023, W.P(S)
No.148/2023, W.P(S) No. 301/2023, W.P(S) No.739 of 2023, W.P(S) No.755 of 2023,
W.P(S) No.937 of 2023, W.P(S) No.1476 of 2023, W.P(S) No.1503 of 2023, W.P(S)
No.1693 of 2023, W.P(S) No.1756 of 2023, W.P(S) No.1840 of 2023, W.P(S) No.1869
of 2023, W.P(S) No.2044 of 2023, W.P(S) No.2506 of 2023, W.P(S) No.2777 of 2023,
W.P(S) No.2917 of 2023, W.P(S) No.3099 of 2023, W.P(S) No.3196 of 2023, W.P(S)
No.3273 of 2023, W.P(S) No.3355 of 2023, W.P(S) No.3438 of 2023, W.P(S) No.3598
of 2023, W.P(S) No.3654 of 2023, W.P(S) No.3890 of 2023, W.P(S) No.4007 of 2023,
W.P(S) No.4008 of 2023, W.P(S) No. 4072 of 2023, W.P(S) No.4095 of 2023, W.P(S)
No.4106 of 2023, W.P(S) No.4124 of 2023, W.P(S) No.4138 of 2023, W.P(S) No.4219
of 2023, W.P(S) No.4324 of 2023, W.P(S) No.4326 of 2023, W.P(S) No.4431 of 2023,
W.P(S) No.4662 of 2023, W.P(S) No.4664 of 2023, W.P(S) No.4780 of 2023, W.P(S)
No.5138 of 2023, W.P(S) No.5261 of 2023, W.P(S) No.5307 of 2023, W.P(S) No.5406
of 2023, W.P(S) No.5603 of 2023, W.P(S) No.5866 of 2023, W.P(S) No.5878 of 2023,
W.P(S) No.5976 of 2023, W.P(S) No.6010 of 2023, W.P(S) No.6157 of 2023, W.P(S)
No.6296 of 2023, W.P(S) No.6469 of 2023, W.P(S) No.6907 of 2023, W.P(S) No.6981
of 2023, W.P(S) No.7496 of 2023, W.P(S) No.7498 of 2023, W.P(S) No.422 of 2024,
W.P(S) No.462 of 2024, W.P(S) No.603 of 2024, W.P(S) No.727 of 2024, W.P(S)
No.736 of 2024, W.P(S) No.741 of 2024, W.P(S) No.1256 of 2024, W.P(S) No.1555 of
2024, W.P(S) No.1638 of 2024, W.P(S) No.1877 of 2024, W.P(S) No.1915 of 2024,
W.P(S) No.2003 of 2024, W.P(S) No.2017 of 2024, W.P(S) No.2034 of 2024, W.P(S)
No.2119 of 2024, W.P(S) No.2123 of 2024, W.P(S) No.2133 of 2024, W.P(S) No.2226
of 2024, W.P(S) No.2282 of 2024, W.P(S) No.2400 of 2024, W.P(S) No.2402 of 2024,
W.P(S) No.2404 of 2024, W.P(S) No.2480 of 2024, W.P(S) No.2481 of 2024, W.P(S)
No.2493 of 2024, W.P(S) No.2528 of 2024, W.P(S) No.2583 of 2024, W.P(S) No.2622
of 2024, W.P(S) No.2712 of 2024, W.P(S) No.2716 of 2024, W.P(S) No.2724 of 2024,
W.P(S) No.2816 of 2024, W.P(S) No.2901 of 2024, W.P(S) No.2953 of 2024, W.P(S)
No.3051 of 2024, W.P(S) No.3052 of 2024, W.P(S) No.3078 of 2024, W.P(S) No.3095
of 2024, W.P(S) No.3096 of 2024, W.P(S) No.3132 of 2024, W.P(S) No.3149 of 2024,
W.P(S) No.3445 of 2024, W.P(S) No.3511 of 2024, W.P(S) No.3521 of 2024, W.P(S)
No.3563 of 2024, W.P(S) No.3569 of 2024, W.P(S) No.3596 of 2024, W.P(S) No.3604
of 2024, W.P(S) No.3790 of 2024, W.P(S) No.3820 of 2024, W.P(S) No.3964 of 2024,
W.P(S) No.3968 of 2024, W.P(S) No.4024 of 2024, W.P(S) No.4050 of 2024, W.P(S)
No. 4067 of 2024, W.P(S) No.4090 of 2024, W.P(S) No.4220 of 2024, W.P(S) No.
4246 of 2024, W.P(S) No.4373 of 2024, W.P(S) No. 4505 of 2024, W.P(S) No.4510 of
2024, W.P(S) No.4523 of 2024, W.P(S) No.4536 of 2024, W.P(S) No.4595 of 2024,
W.P(S) No.4613 of 2024, W.P(S) No. 4639 of 2024, W.P(S) No.4662 of 2024, W.P(S)
No. 4700 of 2024, W.P(S) No. 4709 of 2024, W.P(S) No.4761 of 2024, W.P(S)
No.4769 of 2024, W.P(S) No. 4796 of 2024, W.P(S) No. 4818 of 2024, W.P(S) No.
4834 of 2024, W.P(S) No.4835 of 2024, W.P(S) No.4837 of 2024, W.P(S) No. 4840 of
2024, W.P(S) No.4847 of 2024, W.P(S) No.4868 of 2024, W.P(S) No.4876 of 2024,
W.P(S) No.4884 of 2024, W.P(S) No.4893 of 2024, W.P(S) No.4898 of 2024, W.P(S)
No. 4926 of 2024, W.P(S) No. 4930 of 2024, W.P(S) No.4932 of 2024, W.P(S)
No.4948 of 2024, W.P(S) No.4949 of 2024, W.P(S) No. 4972 of 2024, W.P(S) No.4974
1
of 2024, W.P(S) No.4978 of 2024, W.P(S) No.4999 of 2024, W.P(S) No.5019 of 2024,
W.P(S) No. 5026 of 2024, W.P(S) No. 5044 of 2024, W.P(S) No.5055 of 2024, W.P(S)
No. 5075 of 2024, W.P(S) No.5104 of 2024, W.P(S) No. 5112 of 2024, W.P(S)
No.5134 of 2024, W.P(S) No.5139 of 2024, W.P(S) No. 5155 of 2024, W.P(S) No.5171
of 2024, W.P(S) No.5174 of 2024, W.P(S) No.5182 of 2024, W.P(S) No.5197 of 2024,
W.P(S) No.5214 of 2024, W.P(S) No. 5271 of 2024, W.P(S) No.5279 of 2024, W.P(S)
No.5283 of 2024, W.P(S) No. 5285 of 2024, W.P(S) No.5310 of 2024, W.P(S) No.
5338 of 2024, W.P(S) No.5341 of 2024, W.P(S) No.5342 of 2024, W.P(S) No.5343 of
2024, W.P(S) No.5371 of 2024, W.P(S) No. 5373 of 2024, W.P(S) No.5383 of 2024,
W.P(S) No.5390 of 2024, W.P(S) No.5391 of 2024, W.P(S) No.5405 of 2024, W.P(S)
No.5406 of 2024, W.P(S) No.5430 of 2024, W.P(S) No.5431 of 2024, W.P(S) No.5432
of 2024, W.P(S) No.5433 of 2024, W.P(S) No.5447 of 2024, W.P(S) No.5451 of 2024,
W.P(S) No.5496 of 2024, W.P(S) No.5503 of 2024, W.P(S) No. 5504 of 2024, W.P(S)
No.5505 of 2024, W.P(S) No.5526 of 2024, W.P(S) No.5540 of 2024, W.P(S) No.5541
of 2024, W.P(S) No.5548 of 2024, W.P(S) No.5572 of 2024, W.P(S) No.5616 of 2024,
W.P(S) No.5645 of 2024, W.P(S) No.5658 of 2024, W.P(S) No.5659 of 2024, W.P(S)
No.5665 of 2024, W.P(S) No.5692 of 2024, W.P(S) No.5699 of 2024, W.P(S) No.5714
of 2024, W.P(S) No.5732 of 2024, W.P(S) No.5758 of 2024, W.P(S) No.5766 of 2024,
W.P(S) No.5767 of 2024, W.P(S) No.5773 of 2024, W.P(S) No.5783 of 2024, W.P(S)
No.5792 of 2024, W.P(S) No.5795 of 2024, W.P(S) No.5802 of 2024, W.P(S) No.5805
of 2024, W.P(S) No.5821 of 2024, W.P(S) No.5831 of 2024, W.P(S) No.5832 of 2024,
W.P(S) No.5833 of 2024, W.P(S) No.5849 of 2024, W.P(S) No.5871 of 2024, W.P(S)
No.5873 of 2024, W.P(S) No.5883 of 2024, W.P(S) No.5891 of 2024, W.P(S) No.5907
of 2024, W.P(S) No.5909 of 2024, W.P(S) No.5962 of 2024, W.P(S) No.5988 of 2024,
W.P(S) No.5997 of 2024, W.P(S) No.6012 of 2024, W.P(S) No.6030 of 2024, W.P(S)
No.6125 of 2024, W.P(S) No.6146 of 2024, W.P(S) No.6176 of 2024, W.P(S) No.6189
of 2024, W.P(S) No.6277 of 2024, W.P(S) No.6293 of 2024, W.P(S) No.6294 of 2024,
W.P(S) No.6296 of 2024, W.P(S) No.6315 of 2024, W.P(S) No.6320 of 2024, W.P(S)
No.6569 of 2024, W.P(S) No.6586 of 2024, W.P(S) No.6597 of 2024, W.P(S) No.6599
of 2024, W.P(S) No.6611 of 2024, W.P(S) No.1724 of 2025, W.P(S) No.1764 of 2025,
W.P(S) No.1777 of 2025, W.P(S) No.1779 of 2025, W.P(S) No.1881 of 2025, W.P(S)
No.1976 of 2025, W.P(S) No.2005 of 2025, W.P(S) No.2011 of 2025, W.P(S) No.2071
of 2025, W.P(S) No.2078 of 2025, W.P(S) No.2378 of 2025, W.P(S) No.2398 of 2025,
W.P.(S) No. 2403 of 2025 and W.P.(S) No. 2470 of 2025.
CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE DEEPAK ROSHAN
For the Petitioner(s) : Mr. Rakesh Kumar-III, Advocate
[W.P(S) Nos.5341/24, 5342/24, 5871/24]
Mr. Shekhar Prasad, Advocate
Mr. Mukesh Kumar Mehta, Advocate
Mr. Uttam Kumar Das, Advocate
Mr. Anil Kumar Sinha, Advocate
Mr. Anand Kr. Sinha, Advocate
Mr. Abhishek Sharan, Advocate
Ms. Ganga Kumari Kachhap, Advocate
Mr. Mukesh Kr. Sinha, Advocate
M/s. Shubham Mishra, Gyander Raj, Kazi
Asif Iqbal, Advocates
M/s. Ajit Kumar, Shekhar Prasad Gupta,
Advocates
M/s. Anuj Kr. Trivedi, Soniya Hansda,
Rohit Kr. Gupta, Advocates
Mr. Nityanand Pd. Choudhary, Advocate
Mr. Pankaj Kumar Ravi, Advocate
2
M/s. Chanchal Jain, Abhishek Kumar,
Advocates
Mrs. Ganga Kumari Kachhap, Advocate
For the Respondent(s) : Mrs. Pinky Tiwary, A.C to A.G
[W.P(S) No. 582/23]
Mr. Munna Lal Yadav, S.C(L&C)-III
Mr. Jazeb Iqbal, A.C to S.C(L&C)-III
[W.P(S)Nos.3273/23,5603/23,2404/24,4050/24,4884/24,5572/24,6320/24,1
976/25, 2071/25]
Mr. Mukul Kr. Singh, A.C to G.P.-III
[W.P(S) Nos. 4008/23,727/24,1555/24,4246/24,5433/24,5548/24]
Mr. Zeeshan Ahmad Khan, A.C to S.C.-VII
[W.P(S) No. 4219/23]
Mr. Mukesh Kumar Sinha, Advocate
Mr. Anuj Burman, A.C to G.A.-IV
[W.P(S) Nos. 741/24,4523/24,5182/24,5214/24,5714/24,2005/25,4746/22]
Mr. Rajesh Kumar, Advocate
[W.P(S) No. 4818/24]
Mr. Pankaj Kumar Dubey, Advocate
[W.P(S) No. 4072/23]
Ms. Deepika Jajowar, A.C to S.C.-VI
]
[W.P(S) Nos.4780/23,1915/24,2226/24,3820/24,4505/24,4834/24,4893/24,5279/24
M/s. Dr. Ashok Kumar Singh, Sharon Toppo,
Advocates
Mr. Priyadarshi, G.P.-VI
[W.P(S) No. 4868/24]
Ms. Aditee Dongrawat, A.C to G.P-V
[W.P(S) Nos. 2044/23, 1840/23,4007/23]
Mr. Rishabh Kaushal, A.C to G.P.-II
[W.P(S) Nos. 1503/23,2003/24,4898/24,5155/24,5338/24]
M/s. Ashok Kumar, AAG-IV
Mr. Pradeep Kumar, A.C to AAG-IV
Ms. Amrita Banerjee, A.C to G.P.-I
Ms. Ruchi Mukti, A.C to AAG-IA
Mr. Suresh Kumar, S.C(L&C)
Mr. Jayant Franklin Toppo, S.C SAIL
Mr. Aman Shekhar, AC to GA-I
Mr. Piyush Anand, AC to SC-VI
Ms. Omiya Anusha, AC to AAG-IA
Mr. Pravin Kr. Pandey, Advocate
Mr. Amit Kumar, Advocate
Ms. Amrita Banerjee, AC to GP-I
Mr. Pradeep Kumar, AC to AAG-III
Mr. Sanjoy Piprawall, Advocate
Mr. Prince Kumar, Advocate
Mr. Rakesh Ranjan, Advocate
Mr. Jay Prakash, Advocate
Mr. Ashok Kumar Singh,
AC to SC (L&C)-III
Mr. Rahul Saboo, GP-II
Mr. Ashok Kumar, AAG-IV
Mr. Ashutosh Anand No.2, AC to GP-IV
Mr. Tejo Mistri, Advocate
Mr. Rakesh Kumar Shahi, Advocate
--------
Order No. 33/Dated: 7th April, 2026
All these writ applications were disposed of by a common
order dated 01.09.2025 by appointing Hon'ble Dr. Justice S.N.
Pathak (Retd.) as One-Man Fact-Finding Commission to look
into the matter of irregularities and illegalities, if any,
committed in the matter of preparation and publication of the
revised merit list pursuant to the judgment and order passed
by the Hon'ble Apex Court.
2. Today, the case has been listed only for appointing
another One-Man Fact-Finding Commission due to the fact
that Hon'ble Dr. Justice S.N.Pathak (Retd.) due to some
personal difficulty has declined to take up the assignment.
3. Learned counsel for the State and J.S.S.C strongly
objected the change of name. When it was asked as to whether
this order has been stayed or not, they simply said that they
have filed an appeal before Division Bench of this Court being
L.P.A. No. 764 of 2025 and L.P.A No. 803 of 2025 on
26.09.2025 and 07.11.2025 respectively.
4. Having regard to the aforesaid facts and circumstances of
the case Hon'ble Justice (Retd.) Gautam Kumar Choudhary is
appointed as One-Man Fact-Finding Commission in place of
Hon'ble Dr. Justice S.N.Pathak (Retd.) to look into the matter of
irregularities and other directions given in Paras-51 to 57 of
order dated 01.09.2025. For brevity, the same paras are
extracted in this order also:
"51. Accordingly, to maintain institutional integrity and ensure an impartial enquiry a
one-man commission headed by a former judge of this Court is being constituted.
Hon‟ble Dr. Justice S.N. Pathak (Retd.) is appointed as a One-Man Fact-Finding
Commission to look into the matter of irregularities and illegalities, if any, committed in
the matter of preparation and publication of the revised merit list pursuant to the
judgment and orders passed by the Hon‟ble Apex Court in the matters referred to above.
The One-Man Fact-Finding Commission is requested to make an enquiry and report,
inter alia, on the following issues:
I. Whether the respondent JSSC has at all prepared the revised merit list and
other merit lists as per the judgment and orders of the Hon‟ble Apex Court
before making appointments after the judgment dated 02.08.2022 ?
II. Who are and how many numbers of „already appointed and protected
candidates‟ having lesser marks than the marks obtained by the petitioners
have been accommodated and whether their actual dates of appointment and
joining is prior to and as per the judgment dated 02.08.2022 passed by the
Hon‟ble Apex Court or not ?
III. Who are and how many numbers of „original writ petitioners‟ as indicated in
the judgment of the Hon‟ble Apex Court having lesser marks than the
petitioners in their respective subjects have been appointed by the
respondents and whether they deserve to be included in the said category ?
IV. Whether the vacancies indicated to be occupied by the absentees or non-
joining candidates in the year 2019 which is large in number and not
surrendered have been actually filled up by the respondents by less
meritorious candidates?
V. Further it shall also be required to be verified as to, whether the candidates
whose candidature was rejected on valid reasons have been later on
favoured with appointments and the candidates who have lesser marks than
the petitioners have actually been appointed prior to the judgment of the
Hon‟ble Apex Court or after 02.08.2022 ?
VI. Any other aspect / issue which the One-Man Fact-Finding Commission may
think fit and proper.
52. In view of the above, the One-Man Fact-Finding Commission is requested to make
an enquiry into the aspects referred to in Paragraph No.50 of this Judgment within a
period of three months from the date of receipt of this Judgment and submit its report
to the State Government, which may be placed before the Hon‟ble Council of Ministers
for taking an informed decision on the report and recommendations of the One-Man
Fact-Finding Commission. The Final decision of the State Government must be taken
within 6 weeks from the date of submission of the report by the One-Man Fact-Finding
Commission.
53. This Court further directs that the State Government shall take final decision on the
above referred report and the issue involved as indicated herein below:
(i) How to appoint/adjust the genuine candidates?
(ii) To take appropriate actions to remove the non-eligible candidates;
(iii)To take action against erring officials / staffs of the concerned
Department/JSSC; both departmentally and/or criminally.
54. The One-Man Fact-Finding Commission is free to devise the mechanism and
procedure for making the enquiry as directed by this Court and it shall be free to
consider issuing a general notice inviting objections/representations from the writ
petitioners only and after hearing all the concerned may prepare the report so that the
orders passed by the Hon‟ble Apex Court are complied with in its letters and spirit.
It is further clarified that the One-Man Fact-Finding Commission would be
empowered to summon any person/(s) /Official/(s) of the Respondents and/or call for
any documents in original from them for proper enquiry as aforesaid.
55. It is worth mentioning here that the Learned Advocate General has, during course
of his arguments, made a proposal that the Petitioners may approach the Secretary of
the JSSC raising their individual claims and their grievances can be redressed at that
level subject to the available vacancies. Though this Court appreciates the proposal
made by Ld. A.G.; however, in the attending facts and circumstances, this Court is
declining to accept such proposal of sending the Petitioners to JSSC itself for the
purpose of enquiry into the issues mentioned in Paragraph-50 of this Judgment, for
which purpose a One-Man FactFinding Commission is being appointed and the
Petitioners would be at liberty to place their claims in the form of Representations and
supporting documents before the One-Man Fact-Finding Commission, as already
observed earlier.
56. This Court also directs that the already appointed candidates shall not be disturbed
until final outcome of the enquiry and if any appointment or appointments are found to
be wrongful or in breach of the directions of the Hon‟ble Apex Court; the concerned
candidate will be afforded due opportunity before any final action is taken with respect
to their services.
57. The State Government is directed to make all necessary arrangements to effective
functioning of the One-Man Fact-Finding Commission including providing of
Secretarial Staff and other support staff. The State Government must ensure that the
sittings of the Commission are held at a venue that the One-Man Commission may
decide. The One-Man Fact-Finding Commission must be paid a sum of Rs. 6,00,000/-
(Rupees Six Lakh Only) as remuneration. The same must be paid within three equated
monthly instalments."
5. Accordingly, the Registry is directed to send the copy of
this order along with the orders dated 01.09.2025 and order
dated 04.09.2025, wherein some typographical error was
rectified, to Hon'ble Justice (Retired) Gautam Kumar
Choudhary.
6. It goes without saying that State Government is directed
to make all necessary arrangements for effective functioning of
the One-Man Fact-Finding Commission including providing of
Secretarial Staff and other support staff as directed in the
earlier order indicated hereinabove.
7. With the above modification / observation / direction, all
these writ application stands closed.
(Deepak Roshan, J.)
th
7 April, 2026
Jk
Uploaded on
10 /04/2026
