2026:JHHC:12003-DB 1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI W.P.(PIL) No. 5126 of 2021 Dhananjay Kumar Jha, S/o Late Gulab Jha, R/o S.B. Ray Road (Lohabari), B. Deoghar, District-Deoghar ... ... Petitioner Versus 1. The State of Jharkhand, through its Chief Secretary, Government of Jharkhand, Ranchi 2. The Deputy Commissioner, Deoghar-cum-Administrator of Baba Baidhyanath Temple, Deoghar 3. The Temple In-Charge-cum-Public Information Officer, Baba Baidhyanath Mandir, Deoghar 4. Baba Baidhyanath Temple Management Board, through its Chairman, officiating at Baba Baidhyanath Temple Campus, Deoghar 5. Jharkhand State Hindu Religious Trust Board, through its President, officiating at Jail Road, PO & PS-Lalpur, District- Ranchi 6. The Panda Dharma Rakshini Sabha, through its President, officiating at Baba Baidhyanath Temple Campus, Deoghar ... … Respondents ----- CORAM: HON’BLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE RAJESH SHANKAR For the State : Mr. Rajiv Ranjan, A.G. Mr. Piyush Chitresh, AC to AG ----- Order No. 64 Dated: 23.04.2026 1. This petition, though filed as a Public Interest Litigation, seeks two types of reliefs:- (a) The first relief relates to certain information which the petitioner wants in connection with a temple; (b) Secondly, the petitioner seeks an appropriate writ to fill up the vacant posts at the Jharkhand State Information Commission i.e., posts of State Chief Information Commissioner and State Information Commissioner. 2. The first set of prayers cannot be said to have been made in 2026:JHHC:12003-DB 2 Public Interest. Therefore, we decline to entertain them in this petition. However, we grant the petitioner liberty to file appropriate proceedings before the appropriate forum for pursuing such reliefs in accordance with law. 3. In so far as the appointments to the State Information Commission are concerned, we note that a similar issue is pending before the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of Anjali Bhardwaj & Ors. Vs. Union of India & Ors. [W.P.(C) No. 436 of 2018]. On 27.10.2025, the Hon’ble Supreme Court directed 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. 4. Accordingly, it would not be proper for us to continue with this Public Interest Litigation and we dispose of the same. 5. All pending interlocutory applications also stand disposed of accordingly. (M. S. Sonak, C.J.) (Rajesh Shankar, J.) April 23, 2026 Manish/Ritesh Uploaded on 24.04.2026