Jharkhand Set to Cancel JPSC Exam, Students Refuse to Back Down on CBI Probe

The impasse, with student leaders insisting that they would not call off their agitation without a CBI probe. The protesters have announced a march to the Jharkhand Assembly on August 10, with thousands of aspirants expected to join the demonstration.

The deadlock persisted despite the government offering several measures, including cancellation of the 14th JPSC examination, investigations into alleged irregularities and a series of proposed reforms to the recruitment process.

The students, however, said these steps did not address their core demands.

They are seeking a CBI investigation into alleged irregularities in the CGL and other JSSC examinations, along with action against those responsible.

“We will march to the Jharkhand Assembly on August 10. We are not ready for any compromise until a CBI probe is announced,” student leaders said after meeting the government panel.

Cancellation of the CGL examination has emerged as another major sticking point between the two sides.

Jharkhand Minister Sudivya Kumar Sonu said the government had told the protesters that it could not cancel the examination on its own as the process had been conducted under the directions of the High Court and the Supreme Court and remained under judicial scrutiny.

The results have already been declared and successful candidates have joined service, he said.

Instead, the government proposed a monitoring committee headed by a retired judge to oversee the investigation into alleged irregularities.

The students rejected the proposal, saying a judicially monitored investigation without a CBI probe would not meet their demands.

The government maintained that it had made significant concessions during three days of negotiations.

Sonu said investigations would be conducted into alleged irregularities in the 14th JPSC examination and the 2023-25 backlog recruitments. The CID would examine the criminal aspects, while the government would seek an Enforcement Directorate probe into suspected illicit financial transactions, he said.

The government also proposed setting up a fast-track court and filing charge sheets against the accused within 90 days.

For long-term reforms in the recruitment system, a committee comprising experts from IIT-ISM, IIM Ranchi and XLRI would be formed, Sonu said.

The minister claimed that the government had addressed “98 per cent” of the issues raised by the protesters and that the cancellation of the CGL examination was the main unresolved demand.

The students, however, remained unmoved, making it clear that the absence of a CBI probe was unacceptable to them.

With negotiations failing to produce a breakthrough, Monday’s proposed march to the Jharkhand Assembly is set to be the next major flashpoint in the standoff.