JPSC exam to be cancelled amid protests, three members resign as students demand CBI probe

Ranchi: The Jharkhand government on Sunday cancelled the JPSC examination after another round of talks with protesting recruitment aspirants, but the move failed to end the standoff as students said their agitation would continue until a CBI probe is ordered into the alleged irregularities.

The development came on a day Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar accepted the resignations of three JPSC members, Ajita Bhattacharya, Anima Hansda and Jamal Ahmed, following a recommendation from the state government.

The latest developments followed talks between the government and an eight-member delegation of the JPSC-JSSC Reform Manch in Ranchi. Jharkhand Minister Sudivya Kumar Sonu said the government had decided, on the instructions of Chief Minister Hemant Soren, to address irregularities linked to the 14th JPSC and the 2023-25 backlog recruitments through a two-pronged approach.

The protesters, however, maintained that the agitation would continue until their demand for a CBI investigation into the alleged examination irregularities was met.

The resignations of JPSC members Ajita Bhattacharya, Anima Hansda and Jamal Ahmed were accepted by Governor Gangwar following a recommendation from the state government, Lok Bhavan said in an official statement.

The development came as JPSC and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC) aspirants continued their protests in Ranchi, pressing for transparency in the recruitment process and action over alleged irregularities in public service examinations.

Against this backdrop, an eight-member delegation of the JPSC-JSSC Reform Manch met state ministers Dipika Pandey Singh, Sudivya Kumar, Chamra Linda and Sanjay Yadav at the State Guest House on Sunday. The fresh round of discussions between the government and the protesting aspirants concluded later in the day.

Earlier, Governor Gangwar appealed to the students to pursue their demands through dialogue, saying Chief Minister Hemant Soren was closely concerned about the issue.

'We do not want to toy with the future of our children. Resolve this by talking it out. The Chief Minister is very concerned about this and is continuously discussing with us how to resolve the children's problems,' Gangwar said.

The Governor said the matter would be resolved through discussions and added that the protesting students could meet either him or the Chief Minister whenever they wanted.

Soren, meanwhile, sought to reassure the protesting youth that their grievances would be addressed transparently. He said those found responsible for irregularities would face the 'severest possible punishment'.

'Our youth are staging protests and agitations to claim their rights. It is precisely because of our government's actions that they have found the courage to step forward, protest, and demand their due, for we have exposed the wrongdoing. The youth will receive justice, and those responsible for the irregularities will face the severest possible punishment,' Soren said.

The Chief Minister also urged that the issue not be viewed through a political prism, asserting that the protesting youth did not require political backing to secure justice.

'Your sentiments and your concerns are our concerns. Occupying this constitutional office today, I assure you completely that justice will be served with transparency, and we will ensure that this justice is visibly demonstrated,' Soren said.

The protests were triggered by the announcement of the results of the 14th JPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination on July 5. Aspirants subsequently raised allegations of irregularities in the recruitment process and began demanding greater transparency and accountability.

Students have since maintained round-the-clock protests and an indefinite sit-in, keeping pressure on the state government and recruitment authorities.

The acceptance of the three resignations, coupled with Sunday's government-student talks and assurances from both the Governor and the Chief Minister, comes as the administration faces mounting pressure to address the concerns surrounding the examination process.