Open Drain Tragedy: Jharkhand HC Initiates Suo Motu PIL over Two-Year-Old’s Death
W.P (PIL) No. 430 of 2026
Jharkhand High Court Takes Suo Motu Cognizance of Toddler’s Death in Open Drain
The Jharkhand High Court at Ranchi has registered a suo motu Public Interest Litigation (PIL) following the tragic drowning of a two-year-old child in an open drain at Maulana Azad Colony, Road No. 7, Kanta Toli, Ranchi. This incident, reported in Prabhat Khabar on January 21, 2026, highlights the Ranchi Municipal Corporation’s (RMC) failure to cov
er open drains despite a 2020 court order in W.P. PIL No. 3948/2019 directing completion within six months using quality materials.
Court Directives
The bench, comprising Chief Justice M.S. Sonak and Justice Rajesh Shankar, issued notices to the State Chief Secretary, Urban Development Secretary, and RMC Commissioner, returnable on February 12, 2026. Respondents must file affidavits addressing the child’s death, compliance with prior drain-covering orders, and compensation for civic negligence-related deaths or injuries.
Prior Context
In the 2020 Rajan Kumar Singh case, the court mandated RMC to cover all open drains in Ranchi city. The recent order notes prima facie non-compliance, prompting this suo-moto PIL. The hearing is set for February 12, 2026
