An assistant sub-inspector (ASI) of police skipped institutional quarantine and went on rounds of the civil courts and court room of the sub-divisional judicial magistrate (SDJM) Latehar, necessitating a two-day shutdown of the civil courts.

All the police officials, including the officer in-charge of Barwadih police station, have been put under institutional quarantine.

A new set of police officials is now manning the police station.

The ASI of police was put in institutional quarantine since June 29 and his test report is awaited.

The ASI, who is asymptomatic, is said to be fine, Latehar police sources said.

Principal district and sessions judge Latehar civil courts V.K. Sahay told The Telegraph Online on Saturday, “Under order of the Jharkhand High Court, the civil courts in Latehar stands closed for two days from Friday.”

The principal district and sessions judge said, “The two-day shutdown was necessitated following the discovery of an assistant sub-inspector of police on the civil court premises and courtroom. The cop is alleged to have flouted the protocols of institutional quarantine.”

He said the police official ought to have been in institutional quarantine.

Sources in Latehar police said this ASI of police had visited civil courts/SDJM court on three successive days from June 24. However, this was discovered on July 2 and he had been in isolation since June 29.

“Our SDJM was told about the ASI’s movements on July 2 night and he informed me. The SDJM informed me about this the same July 2 night,” said the principal district and sessions judge.

“Jharkhand High Court, taking immediate cognizance of the matter, directed us to shut down the civil courts, which included the court of SDJM,” said Sahay.

The court premises are being sanitised and fumigated.

“My officials are doing work from home. Our SDJM and his office staff all have been put under home quarantine now and their test results are awaited,” Sahay added.

The superintendent of police, Latehar, Prashant Anand, said, “The ASI had come from leave to join duty in Latehar. He should have been in quarantine as he had come from outside the district.”

Anand said, “The police official kept moving and meeting people. He had returned from leave a day before he was found in the civil courts on June 24. He will be show-caused to explain this behaviour. The entire fleet of police officials in Barwadih police station has been put under institutional quarantine and this police station has been thoroughly sanitised. A new contingent of police officials has been deputed here.”