Jharkhand students suspend 26-day protest over JPSC-JSSC exam; give 2-month ultimatum to Soren govt | India News

The government’s decision, announced after a cabinet meeting on Monday and followed by eight notifications issued late Tuesday night, covers examinations for several administrative, technical and judicial posts.

NEW DELHI: Students protesting alleged irregularities in Jharkhand recruitment examinations suspended their 26-day agitation and gave the state government two months to address their demands on Wednesday. They have urged the JMM-led government to ensure a fair probe into the matter following the cancellation of 22 exams and an investigation ordered into 23 others.The announcement comes a day after the government issued notifications cancelling recruitment examinations conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and an outsourced agency since 2014. The protesters said they would resume their agitation if their concerns were not addressed within the two-month deadline.“We are now suspending the stir and giving a two-month ultimatum to the government to resolve the issues and conduct a fair probe into recruitment exam irregularities,” said a leader of the JPSC-JSSC reforms manch.The manch, which had been leading the agitation at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium in Ranchi, also said three protesters, Rupesh Kumar Pal, Savita Kumari and Rahul Kranti, ended their 15-day hunger strike on Wednesday.Manch leader Ravindra Paswan said, “The 26-day protest by students forced the Jharkhand government to cancel 22 recruitment exams and launch a probe into 23 others.”Spokesperson Piyush Kumar Singh warned that the protesters would launch a fresh, large-scale agitation if the government failed to resolve the issues within the stipulated period.

Cancellation triggers protests among successful candidates

While the student agitation was suspended, the government’s decision to cancel the examinations has triggered a separate protest among candidates who had cleared some of the tests and subsequently joined government departments.Around 2,000 candidates appointed after clearing the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission Combined Graduate Level (JSSC-CGL) examination took to the streets in Ranchi on Tuesday, a day after Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren announced the cancellation.The candidates marched from the state secretariat to Birsa Chowk, arguing that they should not be punished for alleged irregularities committed by others.“Tell us our crime. Don’t throw us out,” said assistant section officer Kaushal Kumar, who demanded a CBI probe or an independent investigation instead of cancelling the entire JSSC-CGL examination.The candidates said many had already joined departments including finance, home, road transport, labour and information and public relations. Some also said they had resigned from other government and public-sector jobs after securing their appointments.They said they were not against an investigation but wanted action to be taken against those found guilty rather than cancelling the entire examination and putting the careers of successful candidates at risk.

Government orders probe, announces recruitment reforms

The government’s decision, announced after a cabinet meeting on Monday and followed by eight notifications issued late Tuesday night, covers examinations for several administrative, technical and judicial posts.The cancelled examinations include recruitment tests for drug inspectors, assistant professors in government engineering and medical colleges, lecturers in government polytechnics, senior scientific officers, assistant conservators of forests and forest range officers.Other examinations cancelled or placed under investigation include different editions of the Jharkhand Combined Civil Services Examination and recruitment tests for food safety officers, child development project officers, food analysts, deputy director (prosecution), project managers, inspectors of factories and boilers, agriculture officers, geologists and chemists.The government said the measures were necessary to restore confidence in the recruitment system amid allegations of malpractice and irregularities.It has also decided to request the high court to constitute a fast-track court for cases involving alleged irregularities in JPSC and JSSC examinations. Internal vigilance cells have also been proposed for both commissions.A committee headed by senior IAS officer Amitabh Kaushal has been tasked with recommending reforms to the JPSC and JSSC recruitment processes. The panel has been given two months to submit its report and is expected to suggest measures to prevent paper leaks, manipulation and other malpractice.

Investigation into alleged recruitment racket continues

The Jharkhand CID has also intensified its investigation into the alleged recruitment irregularities.The agency arrested Sushma Kumari, wife of key accused Abhay Tiwari, and his brother Akshay Tiwari after questioning them for several hours.Tiwari, a former TDPL employee who was posted as a block supply officer in Poriyahat in Godda district, was arrested by the CID on July 22.Investigators said Tiwari had qualified for around 12 competitive examinations over 13 years, including tests conducted by the police, the Navy, the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, the CRPF and Northern Coalfields.Officials are examining his application forms, documents, evaluation records and selection details as part of the probe.Investigators have also claimed that Tiwari told them that different “rate charts” were allegedly used for candidates seeking to qualify in competitive examinations, with “payments ranging from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 70 lakh”. These allegations remain part of the ongoing investigation and have not been established in court.

Political reactions

The cancellations have drawn support as well as criticism from political parties.A Congress delegation met CM Hemant Soren and welcomed the decision, saying it would protect students seeking a fair recruitment process.