Neutral Citation No. 2026:JHHC:18676-DB IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI W.P. (PIL) No. 110 of 2022 Shiv Shankar Sharma, aged about 44 years, S/o – Sri Gautam Sharma, R/o- Village- Tikra Toli, Nagri, Piska, P.O. & P.S.- Nagri, District - Ranchi, Jharkhand. ………..Petitioner Versus 1. The State of Jharkhand. 2. The Senior Superintendent of Police, Ranchi, Kutchary Chowk, P.O.-G.P.O, P.S.-Kotwali, District-Ranchi, Jharkhand. 3. The Superintendent of Police (Traffic), Ranchi, Kutchary Chowk, P.O.-G.P.O, P.S.-Kotwali, District-Ranchi, Jharkhand. 4. The Chairman, Jharkhand Pollution Control Board, CD-256, HEC Colony, CTI Colony, Sector-3, Dhurwa, P.O. & P.S.-Dhurwa, District-Ranchi, Jharkhand, 5. The Secretary, Transport Department, Government of Jharkhand, Project Bhawan, P.O. – Dhurwa, P.S. – Jagannathpur, District – Ranchi (Jharkhand). 6. The Municipal Commissioner, The Ranchi Municipal Commissioner, Kutchary Chowk, P.O.- G.P.O., P.S.- Kotwali, District Ranchi. ………….. Respondents --------- CORAM: HON’BLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE RAJESH SHANKAR --------- For the Petitioner: Mr Rajeev Kumar, Advocate Ms Niteshwari Kumari, Advocate For the State: Mr Indranil Bhaduri, S.C.-IV Mr Suman Marandi, A.C. to S.C.-IV For the JSPCB: Ms Richa Sanchita, Advocate --------- 09/Dated: 25.06.2026 1. Heard Mr Rajeev Kumar, the learned counsel who appears with Ms. Niteshwari Kumari, the learned counsel for the petitioner; Mr Indranil Bhaduri, the learned S.C. IV who appears with Mr Suman Marandi, A.C. to S.C. IV for the Respondents 1, 2, 3 and 5 and, Neutral Citation No. 2026:JHHC:18676-DB Ms. Richa Sanchita, who appears with Mr Vidhan Kumar Singh, learned counsel for the 4th respondent. 2. This petition, in purported public interest, was filed on account of an unfortunate incident that occurred on 7th of January 2022, involving an accident caused by an Auto Driver resulting in the death of a Lady Teacher. 3. The petitioner raised issues of deficiency in the implementation of the traffic laws, including checking fitness certificates, pollution certificates, and whether auto drivers have valid licences and are otherwise following the traffic rules. 4. Insofar as the accident of 7th January 2022 is concerned, Mr Bhaduri, based on the affidavits filed on record, submitted that an FIR has already been filed and, after investigation, a charge-sheet has also been filed against the Auto Driver, namely Golu Kumar. 5. Since the charge sheet has been filed, it would be improper for this Court to issue any further orders regarding the unfortunate incident. 6. Insofar as the other issues raised by the petitioner are concerned, we have perused the affidavits filed on behalf of the respondents, and we accept the assurances given therein. 7. Although we realise that monitoring of such matters has its own difficulties, still, if rules are framed regarding the checking of pollution certificates, fitness certificates and further if there are rules regarding licensing and obeying of traffic rules, the Neutral Citation No. 2026:JHHC:18676-DB authorities who are enjoined to enforce such rules must take all reasonable steps for their enforcement. 8. Before we conclude, we need to record that in WP (PIL) No. 689 of 2021, serious doubts were cast on this petitioner’s credibility and bona fides, and even costs of Rs 50,000/- were imposed upon him. He has still not paid them, citing the pendency of a review, though no interim relief has been granted in that review. Similarly, the Hon’ble Supreme Court, in State of Jharkhand v. Shiv Shankar Sharma, 2022 SCC OnLine 1541, dismissed a purported PIL filed by this very petitioner, holding that the petitioner had abused the process of the Court and that his locus was questionable. 9. Therefore, we clarify that this issue of the bona fides of the petitioner remains open, and this order must not be used by the petitioner to claim credibility. This petition was entertained, and some orders were made therein without going into the issue of bona fides. 10. Therefore, by accepting the assurances in the affidavits, we dispose of this petition. No costs. (M. S. Sonak, C.J.) (Rajesh Shankar, J.) June 25, 2026 N.A.F.R. Manoj/Sharda/Cp.2 Uploaded on 29.06.2026