The Jharkhand government has cancelled the JSSC-CGL examination after a 24-day students’ protest in the state. It has also cancelled all other recruitment exams conducted by private agency TDPL. The announcement triggered celebrations at the protest site in Ranchi, though the demand for a CBI probe remains unresolved.
The Jharkhand government has decided to cancel the JSSC-CGL examination and all competitive examinations conducted by the TDPL agency, besides announcing a probe into recruitment examinations conducted by JPSC and JSSC since 2014.
The decision was taken at a special Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Hemant Soren and was welcomed by protesting students at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium, who celebrated by distributing sweets and applying gulal. The government has also decided to investigate recruitment processes conducted by JPSC and JSSC from 2014 onwards and constitute a committee headed by IAS officer Amitabh Kaushal to recommend reforms in the examination system.
Meanwhile, Minister Deepika Pandey Singh and Health Minister Irfan Ansari, along with MLA Jairam Kumar, visited Sadar Hospital and ended the hunger strike of Devendra Nath Mahato and other protesting students by offering them juice. Devendra Nath Mahato thanked the government and said the decision addressed major demands, with the JPSC-JSSC Nyay Manch announcing that it was suspending its agitation for now. Student leader Ravindra Paswan thanked the government for the decision but said the Reform Manch would continue its agitation until a CBI probe is ordered into the alleged irregularities.
The government’s decision has also triggered protests among candidates already appointed through the JSSC-CGL examination, with several selected candidates gathering outside Project Bhawan in Ranchi and expressing concern over their jobs and future. The Reform Manch is expected to announce its detailed position and future course of action today, particularly on the demand for a CBI probe.
