Jharkhand High Court Orders Comprehensive Inquiry Into HIV-Contaminated Blood Transfusion In Chaibasa

The Jharkhand High Court has expressed deep concern over the alleged transfusion of HIV-contaminated blood to minor patients at Chaibasa Sadar Hospital and has instructed the state government to present a detailed status report.

While hearing the matter on Wednesday, a bench headed by Justice Rongan Mukhopadhyay criticised the state’s handling of the case, noting that filing a First Information Report (FIR) alone does not suffice in such a grave situation.

The bench emphasised that authorities must establish accountability and hold those responsible answerable under the law.

The plea, submitted by Deepika Hembram and others, called for both the registration of an FIR and the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to examine the alleged negligence.

Although officials informed the court that they lodged FIR No 18/2026 on February 6, the bench criticised them for failing to provide clear information on the progress of the investigation.

Court Highlights Severity of Incident

In its observations, the High Court underlined the severe impact of transfusing HIV-infected blood into children, stating that such negligence has long-term consequences on their lives and future.

It also pointed out that the affidavit filed by the state government lacked meaningful details, as it only confirmed the FIR without outlining any concrete steps taken in the investigation.

Taking a serious view of the matter, the court instructed the state authorities to file a supplementary affidavit detailing the full course of the investigation along with actions undertaken so far.

The issue emerged in 2025 after five minor patients suffering from thalassemia at Chaibasa Sadar Hospital were reportedly given HIV-contaminated blood during transfusions. Their families subsequently moved to the High Court seeking justice.

The court will hear the case on April 21 and expects the state government to provide a comprehensive update on the progress of the investigation.

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