JPSC Row: Jharkhand govt to recommend ED probe, set up fast-track court

The Jharkhand government announced on Sunday that it will recommend an Enforcement Directorate probe into alleged financial irregularities in the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) examinations.

Minister Sudivya Kumar informed of the decision after talks with a delegation of protesting students.

Kumar said the Hemant Soren-led government has agreed to the demand for cancellation of the JPSC examination and will set up a fast-track court to deal with cases related to alleged exam irregularities.


Charge sheets in such cases will be filed within 90 days, he said.

The minister also announced that a panel comprising experts from IITs, IIMs and XLRI would be constituted to recommend reforms in the examination system.

However, student leaders said they would continue their agitation until their demand for a CBI probe is accepted. They added that they were not ready for any compromise until a CBI investigation is formally announced.

The protesters also announced that they would march to the Jharkhand Assembly on August 10 as part of their ongoing agitation.

The decisions came after discussions between the JMM government and the student delegation over allegations of irregularities in the JPSC examinations.

The Jharkhand government announced on Sunday that it will recommend an Enforcement Directorate probe into alleged financial irregularities in the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) examinations.

Minister Sudivya Kumar informed of the decision after talks with a delegation of protesting students.

Kumar said the Hemant Soren-led government has agreed to the demand for cancellation of the JPSC examination and will set up a fast-track court to deal with cases related to alleged exam irregularities.

Charge sheets in such cases will be filed within 90 days, he said.

The minister also announced that a panel comprising experts from IITs, IIMs and XLRI would be constituted to recommend reforms in the examination system.

However, student leaders said they would continue their agitation until their demand for a CBI probe is accepted. They added that they were not ready for any compromise until a CBI investigation is formally announced.

The protesters also announced that they would march to the Jharkhand Assembly on August 10 as part of their ongoing agitation.

The decisions came after discussions between the JMM government and the student delegation over allegations of irregularities in the JPSC examinations.

Amid the ongoing controversy, Jharkhand Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar has accepted the resignations of Ajita Bhattacharya, Anima Hansda and Jamal Ahmed, who were serving as members of the Jharkhand Public Service Commission.

According to the Lok Bhavan, the Governor accepted their resignations following a recommendation from the state government.

Students stir

The agitation over alleged irregularities in Jharkhand's recruitment examinations entered its 15th day on Saturday, with earlier talks between the government and one group of protesting students failing to break the deadlock.

The 10-member delegation of the JPSC/JSSC Reforms Manch held discussions with a government panel headed by Higher and Technical Education Minister Sudivya Kumar on Friday night.

Following the meeting, the students decided to continue their protest and hunger strike until all their demands, including cancellation of the 14th JPSC examination, are fulfilled.

The protesters are also demanding an independent investigation into the alleged irregularities, either by the CBI or by a panel of retired High Court judges from outside Jharkhand. They have also sought comprehensive reforms in the functioning of the JPSC and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC).

Student leaders said earlier that the government had given assurances that their concerns would be considered, but maintained that they would not compromise on the demand for a CBI probe.