High Court of Jharkhand quashed orders rejecting bail for a petitioner in juvenile delinquency proceedings based on a non-adverse social investigation report and lack of criminal antecedent, directing release on bond.
The petitioner is directed to be released on bail on furnishing a bond of Rs. 10,000/- with two sureties.
This page shows the compact analysis of this judgement. The full analysis — procedural history, issue-by-issue holdings with ratio and obiter, advocates, and paragraph-level evidence for every claim — is being added to the record in batches and will appear here when this judgement has been through it.
Neutral Citation No. ( 2026:JHHC:27555 )
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI Criminal Revision No. 446 of 2026
Kuldip Gope S/o Karma Gope, through his mother Jayanti Devi W/o Karama Mahto, R/o Village Ranhe, PO Kugaon, PS Ghaghra, District Gumla, Jharkhand … … Petitioner
Versus
The State of Jharkhand … … Opp. parties
CORAM : HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE RONGON MUKHOPADHYAY
For the Petitioner : Mr. Mohit Prakash, Advocate For the Opp. Party : Mr. Jitendra Pandey, A.P.P.
2/14.09.2026 Heard Mr. Mohit Prakash, learned counsel for the petitioner and learned A.P.P. for the State.
This application is directed against the order dated 06.01.2026 passed by the learned Additional Sessions Judge I cum Special Judge (Children’s Court), Gumla in Cr. Appeal No. 48 of 2025 whereby and whereunder the order dated 30.10.2025 passed in Misc. Criminal Application No. 963 of 2025 arising out of Ghaghra P. S. Case No. 20 of 2025 corresponding to Spt. G. R. No. 87 of 2025 by the learned Principal Magistrate, Juvenile Justice Board, Gumla rejecting the prayer for bail of the petitioner has been affirmed.
It has been submitted by the learned counsel for the petitioner that the petitioner has been implicated on the confessional statement of coaccused namely, Shyam Gope. He further submits that there is no other incriminating circumstance against the petitioner. He has further submitted that the petitioner is in observation home since 08.03.2025 and the Social Investigation Report is not adverse to the cause of the petitioner.
Learned A.P.P. for the State has opposed the prayer for bail.
It seems that there was a love affair existing between the deceased and the sister of the petitioner and there was also involvement of the brother-in-law of the petitioner. The name of the petitioner has surfaced
-2-
on the confessional statement of co-accused namely, Shyam Gope. It appears that the petitioner does not have any criminal antecedent and the Social Investigation Report does not imply that the release of the petitioner will expose him to mental and psychological danger. Moreover, the petitioner is in observation home since 08.03.2025.
On consideration of the aforesaid facts, the order dated 30.10.2025 passed by the learned Principal Magistrate, Juvenile Justice Board, Gumla in Misc. Criminal Application No. 963 of 2025 and the order dated 06.01.2026 passed by the learned Additional Sessions Judge I cum Special Judge (Children’s Court), Gumla in Cr. Appeal No. 48 of 2025 are hereby quashed and set aside and the petitioner above named is directed to be released on bail on furnishing bail bond of Rs. 10,000/- (Ten Thousand) with two sureties of the like amount each, to the satisfaction of the learned Principal Magistrate, Juvenile Justice Board, Gumla in connection with Ghaghra P. S. Case No. 20 of 2025 corresponding to Spt. G. R. No. 87 of 2025, subject to the condition that the mother of the petitioner shall ensure the safety of the petitioner and shall further ensure that the petitioner is not allowed to mingle with the anti-social elements.
This criminal revision is allowed.
(Rongon Mukhopadhyay, J)
14 September 2026 Uploalded R. Shekhar Cp 3
2 issues framed by the court
Whether the refusal of bail to the petitioner in a juvenile offence is sustainable on the facts.
Whether the petitioner should be released on bail after reconsideration of the social investigation report.
Kuldip Gope
The State of Jharkhand
Rongon Mukhopadhyay
As recorded by the court registry
Judgements on the same questions, provisions and authorities, from every court
