Students protesting alleged irregularities in government recruitment examinations in Jharkhand began marching towards the state Assembly in Ranchi on Monday after talks with the Hemant Soren government failed
to break the deadlock.
The agitation entered its 17th day on Monday, with six students on an indefinite hunger strike. Protesters went ahead with the Assembly gherao despite appeals from Chief Minister Hemant Soren and Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar to continue negotiations.
Ahead of the march, student leader Sanjay Mehta had said protesters would turn out in large numbers and keep the demonstration peaceful.
“Even after three rounds of talks, the government has not conceded to 100 per cent of our demands. Regarding the march to the Legislative Assembly scheduled for Monday, aspirants and our fellow supporters from all districts of Jharkhand are extending our moral support. We will march in large numbers from the old Assembly building to the new one, conducting this as a completely peaceful march,” Mehta said.
What Are The Demands Of Jharkhand Students?
The protesters’ charter covers the cancellation of recruitment examinations, investigations into alleged irregularities and wider changes to the state’s recruitment system.
Their key demands include cancellation of the JSSC Combined Graduate Level (CGL) examination and a CBI probe into alleged irregularities surrounding it.
Students have also sought cancellation of the 14th JPSC Combined Preliminary Examination and several other recruitment examinations which they claim were affected by irregularities.
Protesters say they had sought cancellation of 13 examinations, but only three have so far been scrapped.
They are also demanding investigations into alleged irregularities in examinations conducted by the JPSC and JSSC, along with action against those found responsible.
Another major demand is the adoption of an examination reform model proposed by the students, along with a fixed recruitment calendar to ensure examinations and appointments are conducted on schedule.
The protesters have also sought greater transparency in the recruitment process and changes in the way examinations are conducted and evaluated.
“If the government fails to meet even a single one of these demands, the movement will continue until they are fulfilled,” Mehta said.
Students Reject Government’s ‘98% Demands Met’ Claim
The protesters have disputed the Jharkhand government’s claim that 98 per cent of their demands have been accepted. “The Jharkhand government is spreading lies that it fulfilled 98 per cent of our demands. It cancelled only three of the 13 exams sought by us,” a student leader said.
Higher and Technical Education Minister Sudivya Kumar, a member of the government panel negotiating with the students, said the government had agreed to most of their demands. “It is unfortunate that students are not ready to withdraw the agitation, though we agreed to most of their demands. There is no intention to save any culprit involved in exam irregularities,” Kumar said.
What Has The Jharkhand Government Agreed To?
The government has agreed to cancel the 14th JPSC examination and proposed an Enforcement Directorate probe into alleged financial irregularities in the JPSC examination.
It has also proposed a fast-track court mechanism under which charge sheets in cases related to examination irregularities would be filed within 90 days.
For broader examination reforms, the government has proposed an expert panel comprising representatives from IIT-ISM Dhanbad, IIM Ranchi and XLRI Jamshedpur.
A separate committee headed by a retired High Court judge has been proposed to examine the JSSC-CGL issue.
The state has also launched a portal seeking suggestions from students and said it would frame a standard operating procedure to improve transparency in future recruitment examinations.
However, the government has rejected the demand for a CBI probe into the JSSC-CGL examination, arguing that the examination was conducted under the monitoring of the High Court and the Supreme Court.
Hunger-Striking Leader Calls August 10 ‘Decisive Day’
Devendra Nath Mahto, who has been on a hunger strike for eight days, urged students and parents across Jharkhand to participate in Monday’s march, calling August 10 a “very important day for Jharkhand”.
“Students have been troubled by paper leaks in every examination, and we are fighting against this,” Mahto said, adding that he had lost 10 kg and was suffering from low blood sugar and severe pain.
“But the pain of seeing question papers being leaked and students being denied jobs is greater than this physical pain,” he said.
Mahto asked protesters to gather at the Old Assembly Ground at 10.30 am before marching towards the Assembly.
“Our student delegation has held two rounds of talks with the government. To a large extent, our movement has received a positive response, but it is not sufficient. Complete reforms are necessary,” he said.
Three JPSC Members Resign Amid Probe
The protest has coincided with fresh developments within the Jharkhand Public Service Commission.
Three JPSC members — Ajeeta Bhattacharya, Anima Hansda and Jamal Ahmad — resigned on Sunday, with Governor Gangwar accepting their resignations.
The Jharkhand CID has summoned all three for questioning in connection with allegations including paper leaks. Bhattacharya is scheduled to be questioned on August 10, Ahmad on August 12 and Hansda on August 14.
JPSC chairman L Khiangte had earlier resigned on July 22. Officials have said 19 people have so far been arrested in connection with alleged irregularities in JPSC examinations.
Khiangte has been questioned several times by the CID since July 28. The JPSC had also postponed the Combined Civil Services Mains Examination scheduled for July 25-27, citing “unavoidable circumstances” amid the protests.
Security Tightened Ahead Of Assembly March
Security has been tightened across Ranchi as the march gets underway, with prohibitory orders in force around the Jharkhand Assembly and barricades erected at key points.
The restrictions remain in force within a 750-metre radius of the Vidhan Sabha building between 6 am and 10 pm from August 6 to August 12.
Ahead of the march, Additional Director General of Police Manoj Kaushik had urged protesters to ensure that troublemakers did not join the demonstration. “It is their responsibility to ensure that anti-social elements and troublemakers are prevented from joining the march,” Kaushik said.
