Ranchi: Jharkhand high court on Thursday set a six-month deadline for the Jharkhand Public Service Commission and the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission to fill vacant posts in jails across the state.A division bench of Chief Justice M S Sonak and Justice Rajesh Shankar, hearing a suo motu public interest litigation, directed the govt to ensure that all jail vacancies are filled within the stipulated period. Jharkhand has 31 correctional facilities, including central jails, district jails and sub-jails.The bench asked the home secretary and the secretaries of both commissions to submit a compliance status report on steps taken to meet the deadline.The state govt told the court that recruitment is underway. The Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission has issued advertisements for assistant jailers, jail warders, medical and nursing staff, and other posts.The court was informed that 81% of sanctioned posts in the state’s jails are vacant. The matter will be heard next on Oct 8.The PIL was initiated following Supreme Court directions to all high courts to monitor jail conditions in their respective states. Acting on those directions, the Jharkhand high court began monitoring jail conditions in 2015 and has repeatedly directed the state to fill vacancies.