The protesters are seeking an impartial probe into examination paper leaks and action against the accused. Screengrab: @amar_4inc
Bihar students threaten fast-unto-death over exam irregularities, give govt 3-day ultimatum
Protesting students have given the Bihar government three days to address demands for action over alleged paper leaks and transparent recruitment exams
Students protesting alleged recruitment and examination irregularities in Bihar have given the state government a three-day ultimatum, warning that they will begin a ‘fast-unto-death’ from Friday (August 2) if their demands are not met.
The agitation started in Patna on Tuesday (August 18), with students staging a sit-in at Gardanibagh, a designated protest area in the state capital.
Students seek action on exam irregularities
The protesters are seeking an impartial probe into examination paper leaks and action against those accused of involvement in such cases. They are also calling for free and fair recruitment examinations across government departments.
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The protest continued despite the Bihar Public Service Commission issuing the schedule for the fourth phase of its Teacher Recruitment Examination, or TRE-4, on Tuesday. The notification covers more than 32,000 teaching vacancies. Students had earlier threatened to gherao the Education Minister unless the schedule was released within 24 hours.
However, the announcement has not settled the dispute. "Our demands for a single-tier examination in BPSC-TRE 4, librarian and sub-inspector recruitment exams, strict action against those who got jobs through corrupt means, and ensuring transparency in BSSC recruitments remain unaddressed,” said student leader Dileep Kumar.
Protesters warn of hunger strike
"We will continue with our protest," Kumar said, adding that he would consult other protesters on Thursday (August 20) before deciding whether to begin an indefinite hunger strike.
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The protesters are also demanding the ‘one candidate, one post’ rule, faster notification of vacancies and pending examinations, and a domicile policy giving preference to candidates from Bihar.
A separate protest has been taking place nearby. Guest faculty members and PhD-holders from universities across Bihar have been demonstrating for more than two weeks. Kumud Patel has been on an indefinite hunger strike for 16 days.
Guest faculty press for reforms
Vibha Rani, a guest faculty member at Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar Bihar University in Muzaffarpur, said they would "not budge from the protest site unless all their demands were met."
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The protesters want UGC Regulation 2018 applied to assistant professor appointments, the upper age limit raised to 55, regularisation of assistant professor appointments, and a domicile policy.
The group has also demanded the resignation of Higher Education Minister Sanjay Singh Tiger and Additional Chief Secretary Dipak Kumar Singh, who recently met the protesters.
(With agency inputs)