Ajay Kumar Mahto Vs State of Jharkhand — Anticipatory Bail | Jharkhand HC (2026)

Ajay Kumar Mahto Vs State of Jharkhand — Anticipatory Bail | Jharkhand HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Anticipatory bail granted to the appellant: he is to surrender in the trial court within four weeks from receipt/production of a copy of the order and, on arrest or surrender, be enlarged on anticipatory bail on furnishing a bail bond of Rs.10,000/- with two sureties of the like amount each, to the satisfaction of the learned Special Judge (SC/ST Act), Chaibasa, in connection with SC/ST P.S. Chaibasa Case No.03 of 2025, subject to the conditions under Section 482 of the B.N.S.S, 2023, including submission of a self-attested photocopy of his Aadhaar Card and an always-active mobile number till conclusion of the case.

Issue for consideration

Whether the appellant is entitled to anticipatory bail under Section 14-A of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act in SC/ST P.S. Chaibasa Case No.03 of 2025, having regard to the nature of the dispute (submitted to be at best a service dispute between an employer and his subordinate teacher) and the contention that the prosecution is a misuse of the protective provision of the SC/ST (PoA) Act.

Court's answer

Considering the nature of the dispute and the status of the parties, the Court was inclined to grant the privilege of anticipatory bail to the appellant.

Ratio / Principle

The appellant was directed to surrender in the trial court within four weeks from receipt/production of a copy of the order and, in the event of arrest or surrender, to be enlarged on anticipatory bail on furnishing a bail bond of Rs.10,000/- with two sureties of the like amount each, subject to the conditions laid down under Section 482 of the B.N.S.S, 2023, including submission of a self-attested photocopy of his Aadhaar Card and an always-active mobile number not to be changed without prior permission of the court till conclusion of the case.

Key takeaways

In the result, the present criminal appeal stands allowed and accordingly disposed of.ratio¶22

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Anticipatory bail — S.14-A, Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act — Criminal Appeal (S.J) No.587 of 2025, High Court of Jharkhand at Ranchi (Rajesh Kumar, J.), decided 06.04.2026. Appeal against rejection of anticipatory bail by the learned Vacation Judge, West Singhbhum at Chaibasa (order dated 02.06.2025 in A.B.P No.91 of 2025) arising out of SC/ST P.S. Chaibasa Case No.03 of 2025 for offences under Sections 132, 351(2) & 352 of the B.N.S and Sections 3(1)(r), 3(1)(s) of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The FIR was lodged by the District Education Officer, West Singhbhum (respondent no. 2) against his own subordinate, the teacher-appellant, against whom departmental proceedings were ongoing; counsel for the appellant urged that the matter was at best a service dispute and a misuse of the protective provision of the SC/ST (PoA) Act, while the State and the victim opposed bail. Held, considering the nature of the dispute and the status of the parties, anticipatory bail was warranted: the appellant was directed to surrender within four weeks and, on arrest or surrender, to be enlarged on bail on a bond of Rs.10,000/- with two like sureties, subject to the conditions under Section 482 of the B.N.S.S, 2023, including submission of a self-attested Aadhaar Card copy and maintenance of an active mobile number till conclusion of the case. Appeal allowed and disposed of.

2026:JHHC:9557`

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI Criminal Appeal (S.J) No.587 of 2025

Ajay Kumar Mahto, aged about 48 years, son of Balram Mahto, resident of Village - Indkata, P.O Jamid, P.S Chakradharpur, District West Singhbhum, Jharkhand …. …. Appellant(s)

…. …. Appellant(s)

-Versus-

The State of Jharkhand

Tony Premraj Toppo, son of Late Fransis Toppo, District Education Officer, West Singhbhum, Chaibasa, Presently resident at Jarika Umbul, Khapparsai, Near Central Resham Board, P.O and P.S. Chaibasa, District West …. …. Respondent(s)

CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE RAJESH KUMAR

For the Appellant	: Mr.	Manoj Tondon, Adv.
For the State	: Mr.	Suraj Deo Munda, A.P.P
For the Informant	: Mr.	Afsar Raza, Adv.
	----

07/Dated: 06^th April, 2026

1. Heard the parties.

2. The present appeal has been filed under Section 14-A of the Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

3. The present appeal has been filed against the order dated 02.06.2025 passed by learned Vacation Judge, West Singhbhum at Chaibasa in A.B.P No.91 of 2025, in connection with SC/ST P.S. Chaibasa Case No.03 of 2025, for the offence under Sections 132, 351(2) & 352 of the B.N.S and Sections 3(1)(r), 3(1)(s) of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act by which the prayer for anticipatory bail of the appellant have been rejected.

4. It appears that the F.I.R has been lodged by the District Education Officer, West Singhbhum, Chaibasa against its own subordinate i.e., the teacher against whom, departmental proceeding is going on.

5. Learned counsel for the appellant has submitted that at best it is a service dispute and the alleged appellant is the controller. It is nothing but misuse of the protective provision of the SC/ST (PoA) Act. On the above basis, the prayer for bail has been made.

6. Learned counsel for the State and the victim have opposed the prayer for bail.

2026:JHHC:9557

7. Considering the nature of the dispute and the status of the parties, I am inclined to grant the privilege of anticipatory bail to the appellant. Accordingly, the appellant, named above, is directed to surrender in the trial court within four weeks from the date of receipt/production of a copy of this order, and in the event of his arrest or surrender, he shall be enlarged on anticipatory bail, on his furnishing bail bond of Rs.10,000/- ( Rs. Ten Thousand ) with two sureties of the like amount each, to the satisfaction of learned Special Judge (SC/ST Act), at Chaibasa in connection with SC/ST P.S. Chaibasa Case No.03 of 2025, on the conditions as laid down under Section 482 of the B.N.S.S, 2023. Further, the appellant(s) will submit self-attested photocopy of his/her/their Aadhaar Card(s) and also submit his/her/their mobile number(s) before the learned trial court which he/she/they will always keep active and will not change it without prior permission of the court, till conclusion of the case.

8. In the result, the present criminal appeal stands allowed and accordingly, disposed of.

(Rajesh Kumar, J.)

Dated: 06^th April, 2026 Raja/- Uploaded on 07.04.2026

Page No.2 Criminal Appeal (S.J) No.587 of 2025