JPSC Protest To Continue After Second Round Of Talks Ends Without Consensus

Protests over alleged irregularities and paper leaks in Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) examinations will continue after the state government failed to reach a consensus with protesting student groups during a second round of talks on Saturday. The government panel met several delegations, including representatives of the JPSC/JSSC Candidates' Forum, NSUI, ACS and the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha's student wing, Jharkhand Chhatra Morcha (JCM). Protesters maintained that their agitation would continue until their demands were addressed.

The three-member government panel first met the faction led by JLKM leader Devendra Nath Mahto, whose fast over the issue had entered its seventh day. The meeting with the JPSC/JSSC Candidates' Forum lasted around two hours. Protesters demanded immediate action over alleged examination irregularities, including cancellation of the 14th Jharkhand PSC Civil Services Examination. Minister Sanjay Prasad Yadav said the demands raised by the aspirants were genuine and would be placed before Chief Minister Hemant Soren.

JCM submitted five demands to the government panel, including cancellation of the 14th JPSC Civil Services Examination. The Congress-backed NSUI presented six demands, including a CID investigation into JPSC and JSSC examinations under suspicion within 90 days and the creation of a Jharkhand Testing Agency on the lines of the National Testing Agency. Higher and Technical Education Minister Sudivya Kumar said the government had also created an email address for aspirants to submit suggestions on reforms to the recruitment process.

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The protesters, however, said they would not withdraw the agitation without fulfilment of their demands. Mahto said students had been protesting peacefully for more than two weeks and demanded immediate cancellation of the 14th JPSC examination and other examinations conducted by the agency. He also said his health had deteriorated during his fast and that doctors had advised hospitalisation after he developed a chest infection. Protesters are also seeking an independent investigation into the alleged irregularities, either by the CBI or a panel of retired High Court judges from outside Jharkhand.

The wider controversy has led to arrests and an ongoing investigation into alleged examination irregularities. According to officials, 19 people have so far been arrested in connection with the JPSC cases. The commission's former chairman, L Khiangte, has also been questioned four times since July 28. Meanwhile, members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) clashed with police while attempting to move through barricades near the Chief Minister's residence during a march in support of protesting students.

The ABVP march began at Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee University, with demonstrators heading towards the Chief Minister's residence and raising slogans demanding the resignation of Hemant Soren and cancellation of the 14th JPSC examination. Police detained around eight to 10 protesters near Sidho Kanho Park to prevent any untoward incident, Deputy Superintendent of Police (Headquarters) Ajay Aryan said. The latest developments indicate that the dispute remains unresolved despite successive government meetings, with student groups continuing to press for cancellation of the examination and an independent probe into the alleged irregularities.

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