RANCHI, India, May 29 -- Jharkhand High Court issued the following order on April 29:

1. The instant writ application has been preferred by the petitioner for the following relief:-

(i) For issuance of an appropriate writ(s)/order(s)/ direction(s) in the nature of certiorari for quashing the order as contained in Memo No. 326 dated 01.09.2025 (Annexure-3) issued under the signature of Superintendent of Police, C.T.C., Swaspur, Musabani, whereby and whereunder a punishment of withholding of one annual increment equivalent to two Black mark has been inflicted upon the petitioner.

(ii) For issuance of an appropriate writ(s)/order(s)/ direction(s) in the nature of certiorari for quashing of the Appellate Order as contained in Memo No. 49 dated 11.01.2026 (Annexure-4) issued under the signature of Deputy Inspector General of Police, Kolhan Area, Chaibasa, whereby and whereunder the Appeal preferred by the petitioner has been rejected.

2. Briefly stated, the petitioner was appointed on the post of Sub-Inspector on 06.08.2018. The petitioner is currently posted as Sub-Inspector-cum-Officer-inCharge, Chhatarpur Police Station, District Palamau. The petitioner was served with a Charge Memo dated 11.11.2023 issued under the signature of the Superintendent of Police, CTC, Swaspur, Musabani. The charges levelled against the petitioner in the Departmental Proceeding were as follows: -

(a) The confessional statement of the accused namely Aman Sao was not recorded through Video mode on 31.05.2023 in connection with Balumath (Latehar) P.S. Case No. 30 of 2023 dated 19.02.2023.

(b) The confessional statement of the accused namely Aman Sao was leaked in the media and the same was published in the Daily Newspaper.

(c) The name of the Builder and the Political Leader namely Ramesh Singh has been included in the confessional statement of Aman Sao.

(d) The inclusion of the name of Ramesh Singh in the confessional statement of the accused namely Aman Sao has tarnished the image of Ramesh Singh and the same has been done at the instance of one contractor namely Kripa Shankar Singh.

(e) The confessional statement of Aman Sao was not recorded through Video Recording just to include the name of Ramesh Singh in the confessional statement of Aman Sao.

3. It has been submitted by Mr. Indrajit Sinha, Ld. Counsel for the petitioner that under Cr.P.C./Indian Evidence Act, 1872 there is no provision that the confessional statement of the accused has to be recorded through Video mode. The confessional statement was recorded on 31.05.2023 when Cr.P.C./Indian Evidence Act, 1872 was applicable and in absence of any procedural laws, there is no mandate for recording the confessional statement of the accused through Video mode and therefore, the first charge is not made out against the petitioner.

So far as to the charge with respect to leaking of the confessional statement of the accused is concerned; there is no evidence in enquiry report to suggest that the same has been leaked by the petitioner.

With respect to the charges regarding tarnishing of the image of the political leader namely Ramesh Singh is concerned; there is no evidence in the enquiry report to suggest the said fact.

*Rest of the document can be viewed at: (https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/ecourtindiaHC/cases/display_pdf.php?filename=I1mmm2bl4r4EREhYK63Kv8tBTdS%2BWXLRgN20SFSSrQI7H5AeF2VkgQyKN2SZKIYL&caseno=WPC/1657/2026&cCode=1&cino=JHHC010063672026&state_code=7&appFlag=)

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