Dead Law Rules Jharkhand: Amba Prasad Exposes Major Legal Blunder in FIR Registration

RANCHI: In a scathing indictment of the Jharkhand government’s law and order machinery, Amba Prasad, Former MLA and Joint Secretary of the AICC, held a high-stakes press conference outside the Jharkhand Judicial Academy today. She alleged that the state is currently operating under a “dead law,” mocking the entire judicial process of the country.

The Shocking Anomaly: Despite the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) replacing the CrPC nationwide on July 1, 2024, Jharkhand police stations are still registering thousands of FIRs under the defunct Section 154 of the CrPC in 2026.

Mandatory Violation: Legally, every FIR registered after the transition date must fall under Section 173 of the BNSS. Prasad displayed recent FIR copies from just “yesterday and the day before” that still carry the outdated CrPC branding on NCRB forms.

A “Dead Law” in Official Use: “It has been nearly a year and a half, yet the administration, the prosecution cell, and even the opposition remain silent while a dead law is used in official government documents across the state,” Prasad stated.

Systemic Failure: She raised pointed questions for Chief Minister Hemant Soren (who holds the Home Portfolio), the Jharkhand High Court, and the Supreme Court, asking how such a massive procedural lapse has gone unnoticed by the Legislative Assembly and legal experts.

Education at Stake: The timing of the expose is critical, as a National-level Legal Conference began today at the Judicial Academy. Prasad noted that institutions like NUSRL and other law colleges are being forced to teach students a flawed process based on these incorrect government forms.

“This is not just a clerical error; it is a mockery of the legal system that puts the validity of every recent investigation in Jharkhand at risk,” Prasad warned, demanding an immediate correction of the digital and physical FIR infrastructure.