2026:JHHC:11899-DB 1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI W.P.(PIL) No. 2894 of 2021 Advocates’ Association, through its Treasurer, Dheeraj Kumar, S/o R.P. Singh, R/o Mathurapuram, PO & PS-Namkum, District-Ranchi ... ... Petitioner Versus 1. The State of Jharkhand, through the Chief Secretary, Government of Jharkhand, Ranchi 2. The Secretary, Jharkhand Assembly Secretariat, Jharkhand ... … Respondents CORAM: HON’BLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE RAJESH SHANKAR For the Petitioner : Mr. V.P. Singh, Sr. Advocate Mrs. Bandana Kumari Sinha, Advocate For the State : Mr. Rajiv Ranjan, A.G. Mr. Piyush Chitresh, AC to AG For Jharkhand Vidhan Sabha : Mr. Anil Kumar, SC For the Intervenor : Mr. Binod Singh, Advocate Mr. Sunil Kumar Mahto, Advocate Mr. Rohit Ranjan, Advocate ----- Order No. 64 Dated: 23.04.2026 1. Heard learned counsel for the parties. 2. Mr. Rajiv Ranjan, learned Advocate General places on record a notification dated 17.04.2026 appointing Hon’ble Mr. Justice Amitabh Kumar Gupta, Retd. Judge of this Court, as Lokayukta in terms of the Jharkhand Lokayukta Act, 2001. 3. Mr. V.P. Singh, learned Senior Counsel for the petitioner, states that the present petition, which was primarily concerned with the appointment of the Lokayukta, can now be disposed of. 4. Accordingly, after taking on record the notification dated 17.04.2026, we dispose of this petition. 5. However, so far as the prayers for constituting a State Information Commission or appointing a State Chief Information Commissioner are concerned, we do not propose to deal with them because a similar matter is pending before the Hon’ble Supreme Court i.e., Anjali Bhardwaj & Ors. Vs. Union of India & Ors. [W.P.(C) No. 436 of 2018]. From some of the orders placed before us, we find that the 2026:JHHC:11899-DB 2 Hon’ble Supreme Court has been monitoring this matter with relation to vacancies throughout the country. In the order dated 27.10.2025, which was handed in by the learned Advocate General, we find that even a direction has been issued to the Chief Secretary, State of Jharkhand to ensure that the pending selection process is completed in all respects within 45 days and a compliance affidavit is filed, failing which, the Hon’ble Supreme Court would be constrained to take appropriate action. 6. Since the matter is pending and is being monitored by the Hon’ble Supreme Court, we do not think that it would be appropriate for us to deal with this aspect in this petition. 7. I.A. No. 4510 of 2026 filed on behalf of the applicant – Vishal Kumar, seeking intervention in this petition, is also disposed of. 8. If there are any further grievances regarding appointments, liberty is granted to the petitioner and the intervenors to file separate petitions. (M. S. Sonak, C.J.) (Rajesh Shankar, J.) April 23, 2026 Manish/Ritesh Uploaded on 24.04.2026