The student agitation in Ranchi over alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations entered its 19th day on Wednesday, with the deadlock between protesters and the Jharkhand government continuing over two key demands. Despite an assembly march, police action and several rounds of negotiations, no agreement has been reached. Meanwhile, the health condition of four students who had been on hunger strike and are receiving treatment at Sadar Hospital was reported to be stable.

The protesters' first major demand is cancellation of the 2024 JSSC-CGL examination. More than 2,000 appointments have already been made through the examination, with selected candidates currently working in different government departments. The state government has opposed cancellation at this stage, maintaining that the recruitment process proceeded after court orders cleared the way for the appointments.

The second major demand is a CBI investigation into alleged irregularities in all disputed examinations conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC). The government has not accepted the demand for a CBI probe and has instead proposed a high-level committee headed by a retired judge to examine the allegations and issues surrounding the examinations.

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The prolonged protest has also raised concerns over the health of students who undertook a hunger strike. Habiba and Rahul Kranti are undergoing treatment at Sadar Hospital, while Devendra Nath Mahto and Mahendra Pratap are also receiving medical care. According to the hospital authorities, the condition of all four protesters is stable and their health is being monitored through regular check-ups.

Jharkhand Health Minister Irfan Ansari visited the hospital on Wednesday and met the students receiving treatment. He urged the protesters not to put their health at risk through a hunger strike and maintained that the government had already formed a team to examine the concerns. He also indicated that dialogue between the government and students would continue as efforts to resolve the dispute remain underway.

The protest has continued despite attempts to bridge the differences between the two sides, with the cancellation of the JSSC-CGL examination and the demand for a CBI probe remaining the principal points of disagreement. The government has maintained its alternative proposal of a retired-judge-led committee, while the students continue to seek action through their two stated demands.

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