‘Dialogue, not batons’: CM Hemant Soren promises justice, transparency to Jharkhand exam protesters

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren has assured students protesting over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations that the state government is open to dialogue and will seriously consider their demands, as the agitation over the JPSC and JSSC recruitment processes continues in Ranchi.

CM said dialogue, not batons, was the way to resolve the students’ concerns, stressing that weapons were meant for enemies at the border, not protesting students.

Soren said the government was prepared to engage with protesting aspirants and work towards a concrete resolution of the issues raised by them. He also pointed to arrests and ongoing investigations into the alleged irregularities, saying agencies were working to establish the facts.


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“Many individuals have already been arrested and sent to jail, and investigative agencies are conducting raids at multiple locations,” Soren said, adding that the government was working towards a resolution of the matter.

“The government's doors are open to everyone. Anyone who has demands can come forward and present their concerns,” the chief minister said, assuring students that their grievances would be considered seriously.

The remarks come amid sustained protests by job aspirants in Jharkhand over alleged irregularities in examinations conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC).

The latest agitation was triggered after the results of the 14th JPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination were announced on July 5. Aspirants subsequently launched round-the-clock protests and an indefinite sit-in, demanding greater transparency and accountability in the recruitment process.

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The protesters have sought, among other demands, cancellation of the 14th JPSC preliminary examination and scrutiny of examinations conducted through agencies suspected of irregularities. Some groups have also demanded an independent investigation, including a probe by the CBI or a panel of retired high court judges from outside Jharkhand.

The government has meanwhile begun engaging with different groups of protesting aspirants. On Saturday, a government panel held talks with a faction led by Devendra Nath Mahto, but the discussions failed to end the deadlock. The protesters said their agitation would continue until their demands, including cancellation of the 14th JPSC examination, were met.

The issue has also seen action from investigative agencies. Jharkhand CID arrested five more people on August 6, taking the total number of arrests in the JPSC irregularities case to 19. The investigation is being conducted by a Special Investigation Team examining digital records, application logs and related documents.

However, the government's efforts have yet to satisfy all protesting groups. Student leaders have continued to demand cancellation of examinations they allege were compromised, an independent probe and systemic reforms in the state's recruitment process. A larger Assembly march has also been announced for August 10 if their demands are not addressed.