JAMSHEDPUR, Feb. 19 -- Jharkhand High Court has expressed serious concern over the absence of mandatory judicial inquiries into custodial death cases, directing the state home secretary to file a comprehensive affidavit on the matter, people aware of the development said on Thursday.

Hearing a PIL by Mohd Mumtaz Ansari, represented by his counsel Mohd Shadab Ansari, a division bench comprising Chief Justice MS Sonak and Justice Rajesh Shankar took note of data revealing that between 2018 to 2025, approximately 437 persons died in police or judicial custody in the state.

The matter has been listed for further hearing on March 19, with the affidavit required to be submitted by March 13.

"The court has observed that while the affidavit fi...