Jharkhand students to march to Assembly today over recruitment exam irregularities

Students protesting alleged irregularities in government recruitment examinations in Jharkhand will march to the state Assembly on Monday (August 10) after another round of talks with the Hemant Soren government failed to break the deadlock on Sunday.

The two sides blamed each other for the lack of progress, with the standoff revolving around the students’ demand for a CBI investigation into alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations and the scrapping of a Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC) examination. The government has turned down both demands.

Appeal for peaceful march

The protesters said they would proceed with the Assembly march despite Chief Minister Hemant Soren and Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar urging them to resume talks. Security has been stepped up across Ranchi ahead of the demonstration.

“Even after three rounds of talks, the government has not accepted all of our demands. Regarding Monday’s march to the Legislative Assembly, aspirants and supporters from all districts of Jharkhand are extending their moral support. We will march in large numbers from the old Assembly building to the new one, and the protest will remain completely peaceful,” student leader Sanjay Mehta said.

Mehta said the protesters are seeking cancellation of the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC) Combined Graduate Level (CGL) examination, a CBI investigation into the alleged irregularities, acceptance of the examination reform framework proposed by the students and implementation of their suggested recruitment calendar. “If the government does not accept even one of these demands, the movement will continue until all of them are fulfilled,” he said.

The protest leaders have appealed to participants to remain calm and united, march to the Assembly together without disrupting traffic or causing inconvenience to the public, avoid any confrontation with police, flag any signs of disorder and continue raising their demands peacefully while checking information and steering clear of rumours.

JPSC exam cancellation demand met

Earlier, protesting students on Sunday said their demand for cancellation of the JPSC exam had been accepted, but they would continue their agitation until the state government announced a CBI probe.

Jharkhand Minister Sudivya Kumar Sonu said the government had held three days of talks with the aspirants and conducted extensive consultations before deciding to address alleged irregularities in the 14th GPSC and the 2023-25 backlog recruitment.

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“Following three days of talks and extensive consultations, and acting on the instructions of CM Hemant Soren, the government decided to address the irregularities associated with the 14th GPSC and the 2023-25 backlog recruitments through a two-pronged approach. Criminal aspects will be investigated by the CID; furthermore, given the financial implications and evidence of illicit financial transactions, a request will be made for an ED investigation,” Sonu said, according to news agency ANI.

He said a fast-track court would subsequently be set up and charge sheets against the accused would be filed within 90 days.

On reforms, Sonu said the government would form a committee of experts from IIT-ISM, IIM Ranchi and XLRI to guide the process.

CGL cancellation remains sticking point

“Following these discussions, student representatives demanded the cancellation of the CGL examination. The government clearly stated that, as the examination was conducted in accordance with the directives of the High Court and the Supreme Court, and is currently under their monitoring, it lacks the authority to cancel it,” he said.

The government offered to constitute a monitoring committee headed by a retired judge to oversee the investigation, but the students rejected the proposal.

“We believe the government agreed to 98 percent of the points raised. The remaining two percent, specifically the demand to cancel the CGL exam, could not be met because the government cannot unilaterally cancel an exam conducted under court orders, where results have been published, and successful candidates are already employed,” Sonu said.

Three JPSC members tender resignation

Meanwhile, three serving members of the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) have resigned amid ongoing student protests over alleged irregularities in examinations.

Also read | Ink thrown at AISA chief during Jharkhand exam protest march; accused arrested

Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar accepted the resignation of Ajeeta Bhattacharya, Anima Hansda and Jamal Ahmad, according to a statement issued by the Lok Bhavan.

The resignations came after the CID summoned the three members for questioning in connection with the allegations of irregularities, including paper leaks. Bhattacharya, who is the wife of JMM leader Supriyo Bhattacharya, is scheduled to be questioned on August 10, Ahmad on August 12, and Hansda on August 14, officials said. The three members were appointed in September 2021.

On July 22, JPSC chairperson L Khiangte had tendered his resignation. Nineteen people have so far been arrested in connection with the alleged irregularities in JPSC examinations, while Khiangte has been questioned four times since July 28.