High Court of Jharkhand Directs Speedy Compensation Process for Family of Alleged Witch-Hunting Victims in Gumla Double Murder Case
W. P. (Cr.) No. 83 of 2026
In a case highlighting the continuing menace of witch-branding violence in rural Jharkhand, the High Court of Jharkhand directed the District Legal Services Authority to expeditiously decide a compensation claim filed by a man whose mother and sister were allegedly murdered after being branded as witches.
The writ petition was filed by Chithu Pradhan, a resident of Gumla district, seeking compensation under the Jharkhand State Victim Compensation Scheme. According to the petition, his mother and sister were killed in an incident that led to registration of Raidih Police Station Case No. 08 of 2025 under Section 103(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Sections 3 and 4 of the Jharkhand Prevention of Witch (Daain) Practices Act.
The petitioner informed the Court that applications for compensation had already been submitted before the Jharkhand State Legal Services Authority as well as the District Legal Services Authority, Gumla, but no decision had yet been taken.
Hearing the matter, Justice Gautam Kumar Choudhary observed that since the petitioner had already approached the legal services authorities for victim compensation, the matter should be processed without further delay.
The Court directed the petitioner and his wife to personally appear before the District Legal Services Authority, Gumla within two weeks with a fresh copy of their application and supporting documents. The DLSA was further instructed to dispose of the compensation claim within four weeks thereafter under the Jharkhand State Victim Compensation Scheme, 2019.
The Court also ordered immediate communication of the direction to the District Legal Services Authority, Gumla for compliance, before disposing of the writ petition.
