Taleshwar Mahto Vs the State of Jharkhand through the Chief Secretary — Jharkhand HC (2025) — LawSathi Research

Taleshwar Mahto Vs the State of Jharkhand through the Chief Secretary — Jharkhand HC (2025) — LawSathi Research

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Interlocutory applications disposed of with liberty to the petitioners to substantially challenge the decision to hold a re-examination; on the accepted undertaking of the Learned Advocate General, the earlier granted time limit proportionately extended to 1st July 2026 for completion of the process up to sending the recommendation for appointment; compliance report to be filed by the 6th of July 2026.

Issue for consideration

Whether the interlocutory applications (I.As) filed in W.P (PIL) No. 2375 of 2024, which stands disposed of since 07.08.2025, are maintainable/can be entertained. +2 more

Court's answer

The I.As filed in the petition, not being pressed by the petitioners, are disposed of with liberty to the petitioners to substantially challenge the decision to hold a re-examination.

Ratio / Principle

Such I.As would not be maintainable in any event, because W.P (PIL) No. 2375 of 2024 has already been disposed of by order dated 07.08.2025 and the matter was kept only for reporting compliance.

Key takeaways

Although there has been a deviation from the timeline set out in paragraph 5 of the order dated 07.08.2025, the Court is satisfied that there has been substantial compliance.ratio¶¶12
The Learned Advocate General's statement, accepted by the Court, is that re-examination will be conducted on the appointed dates and the entire process up to the stage of sending the recommendation for appointment of candidates to the Department will be completed by 01 July 2026.ratio¶¶16

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

High Court of Jharkhand at Ranchi (M. S. Sonak, C.J. and Rajesh Shankar, J.; order dated 07.05.2026) in W.P (PIL) No. 2375 of 2024, Taleshwar Mahto and Others v. The State of Jharkhand through the Chief Secretary and Others: compliance-stage order in a PIL already disposed of by order dated 07.08.2025 and kept only for reporting compliance. The interlocutory applications, not being pressed, were disposed of with liberty to the petitioners to substantially challenge the decision to hold a re-examination; the Court held such I.As would not otherwise be maintainable as the parent PIL stood disposed. Although the timeline in paragraph 5 of the order dated 07.08.2025 was deviated from, the Court found substantial compliance: examinations held between 15.01.2026 and 20.02.2026 with almost 24,000 candidates; re-examination ordered for 2,819 affected candidates, scheduled for 8th-9th May 2026; a stay sought by about 40-50 of those candidates had already been declined in W.P (S) No. 2934 of 2026 and connected matters. Accepting the Learned Advocate General's undertaking, the Court proportionately extended the earlier time limit to 1st July 2026 for completion of the entire process up to sending the recommendation for appointment to the Department, and directed that a compliance report be filed by the 6th of July 2026.

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI W.P (PIL) No. 2375 of 2024

Taleshwar Mahto and Others ... ... ... ... Petitioners Versus

The State of Jharkhand through the Chief Secretary and Others

… … ... Respondents

CORAM: HON’BLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE RAJESH SHANKAR

--------For the Petitioners: Dr (Mrs) Vandana Singh, Advocate For the Resp.-State: Mr Rajiv Ranjan, A.G Mr Piyush Chitresh, A.C to A.G For the Resp.-JSSC: Mr Sanjoy Piprawall, Advocate Mr Prince Kumar, Advocate Mr Jay Prakash, Advocate Mr Rakesh Ranjan, Advocate ---------

12/Dated: 07.05.2026

Heard Dr Vandana Singh, who appears for the petitioners, learned Advocate General, who appears with Mr Piyush Chitresh for the State, and who appears for the JSSC.

Dr Vandana Singh, on instructions, states that the I. As filed in this petition are not being pressed. Accordingly, these I. As are disposed of with liberty to the petitioners to substantially challenge the decision to hold a re-examination.

Even otherwise, such I.As would not be maintainable because W.P (PIL) No. 2375 of 2024 has already been disposed of by order dated 07.08.2025. The matter was kept only for reporting compliance.

Although there has been a deviation from the timeline set out in paragraph 5 of our order dated 07.08.2025, we are satisfied that there has been substantial compliance.

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Between 15.01.2026 and 20.02.2026, examinations were held in which almost 24,000 candidates appeared. There was an issue with 2,819 candidates, and, with respect to those candidates, reexamination has been ordered. Re-examination has been scheduled on the 8^th and 9^th of May 2026.

About 40-50 of the 2819 candidates filed writ petitions and applied for a stay of the re-examination. By a separate order made in W.P (S) No. 2934 of 2026 and connected matters, this prayer for interim relief has already been declined.

The Learned Advocate General states that re-examination will now be conducted on the appointed dates, and the entire process up to the stage of sending the recommendation for the appointment of candidates to the Department will now be completed by 01^st of July 2026. This statement is accepted, and the earlier granted time limit is proportionately extended to 1^st of July 2026.

By the 6^th of July, 2026, a compliance report must be filed in this matter, although it has already been disposed of.

(M. S. Sonak, C.J.)

(Rajesh Shankar, J.)

May 07, 2026 Ranjeet/R.Kr./Cp.1

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