Ranchi: The Jharkhand government on Sunday agreed to cancel three examinations conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC), including the preliminary examination of the 14th Combined Civil Services Examination, following nearly six hours of discussions with protesting student groups in Ranchi.
The decision came as the student agitation over alleged irregularities in JPSC and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC) examinations entered its 16th day. Three JPSC members, Ajeeta Bhattacharya, Anima Hansda and Jamal Ahmad, also resigned on Sunday, with their resignations accepted by Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar.
According to the decisions announced after the talks, the government will cancel the JPSC backlog 2023 examination, JPSC backlog 2025 examination and the 14th JPSC preliminary examination.
The government also agreed to involve the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in investigating alleged financial irregularities connected with the 14th JPSC examination. Criminal aspects of cases related to the examinations will be investigated by the state Criminal Investigation Department (CID), while financial and economic aspects will be examined by the ED.
However, the agreement has not ended the student agitation. Protesters continue to demand cancellation of the JSSC Combined Graduate Level (CGL) examination result and a CBI probe into all JPSC-linked examinations. Student leader Ravindra Paswan said the protesters would continue with their proposed march to the Jharkhand Assembly on Monday.
The government has rejected the demand to cancel the JSSC-CGL results, arguing that the examination process was conducted under the monitoring of the Supreme Court and Jharkhand High Court and that several successful candidates have already joined their postings. Technical and Higher Education Minister Sudivya Kumar Sonu said cancelling the results without valid grounds could invite judicial scrutiny.
The government instead proposed a high-level judicial inquiry committee headed by a retired judge to examine the CGL matter. Student representatives, however, remained firm on their demand for cancellation, claiming they had submitted evidence of a paper leak.
The talks involved two major factions of the student movement, the JPSC-JSSC Reform Manch and JPSC-JSSC Abhyarthi Nyay Manch, along with representatives associated with AISA. The government panel included ministers Deepika Pandey Singh, Sanjay Prasad Yadav, Chamra Linda and Sonu.
The government said it had accepted around 98% of the students’ demands and announced several long-term reforms, including a new portal for collecting student feedback and developing standard operating procedures to make recruitment examinations more transparent. It also proposed seeking assistance from institutions such as IIMs and XLRI for comprehensive reforms in the functioning of JPSC and JSSC.
Fast-track courts are also proposed for speedy disposal of cases, with reports of economic and judicial investigations expected within 90 days, according to student representatives.
The agitation has also been linked to allegations involving private testing agency TSR Data Processing Private Limited (TDPL). Abhay Tiwari, a Block Supply Officer in Godda accused of involvement in a recruitment racket, was arrested earlier this month. Investigators allege that he simultaneously worked as TDPL’s marketing manager.
Chief Minister Hemant Soren appealed for dialogue, saying that “samvad” rather than force could resolve the dispute. He assured protesting candidates that justice would be delivered transparently. Governor Gangwar also urged students to resolve the issue through dialogue.
At least 19 people have so far been arrested in connection with alleged irregularities in JPSC examinations.
