State's Home Secretary Directed to File 'Personal Affidavit' on Number of Custodial Deaths Since 2018: Jharkhand High Court

In a significant development concerning human rights and State accountability, the Jharkhand High Court has directed the Secretary, Department of Home, Prison and Disaster Management, Government of Jharkhand, to file his personal affidavit regarding the number of custodial deaths in the State from 2018 onwards. The directive came during the hearing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking a judicial inquiry into custodial deaths occurring in prisons and other judicial…