Looks like the storm in Jharkhand is far from over.
Around 2,000 successful candidates of the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission-Combined Graduate Level (JSSC-CGL) examination held a protest outside the Jharkhand Secretariat
on Tuesday, a day after the Hemant Soren-led government announced the cancellation of the recruitment exams.
While the protesting JSSC-CGL aspirants celebrated the decision, those who successfully cleared the exam had a simple question: What is our crime?
#WATCH | Ranchi, Jharkhand: Government employees appointed through the JSSC-CGL recruitment process stand in protest in the rain outside the state secretariat (Project Bhawan). The demonstration follows the state cabinet’s decision to cancel the JSSC-CGL examination. pic.twitter.com/ebnzB4fkWM
— ANI (@ANI) August 18, 2026
“Tell us our crime. Don’t throw us out”, a protesting candidate said, fearing he would lose his job after the cancellation of the recruitment exam, PTI reported.
The Jharkhand Government on Monday, August 17, announced the cancellation of the JSSC-CGL exam, along with all recruitment tests conducted by outsourced agency TSR Data Processing Pvt Ltd (TDPL) since 2014, following widespread protests over alleged irregularities in the exams.
While the decision was a key demand put forth by the protesting candidates, it triggered fresh concerns among those who had successfully cleared the JSSC-CGL examination. Questioning the State government, they argued that they should not be punished for alleged irregularities unless their individual involvement is found.
Chanda Kumari, a protestor, said: “Our judiciary and democracy function on the principle that even if 100 guilty people go free, one innocent person should not be punished. But with the government’s decision, thousands of innocent people have been punished immediately. Is cancelling the examination the right way to improve the system? Will this ensure justice for those who are actually guilty?” PTI reported.
VIDEO | Ranchi, Jharkhand: JSSC-CGL cancellation sparks protest among appointed government employees.
Protester Chanda Kumari says, “Our judiciary and democracy function on the principle that even if 100 guilty people go free, one innocent person should not be punished. But with… pic.twitter.com/NW3MqVuX6w
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 18, 2026
She accused the government of adopting a biased approach, adding the successful candidates were denied a fair opportunity to present their side.
“For the past 24 days, the government has heard only one side and has not given the other side an opportunity to present its case. How is it justified to hear only one side and take a decision? We were not even given an opportunity to put forward our side, so we are now presenting our views through the media.”
While the candidates asserted that they do not oppose a fair investigation into the said wrongdoing, they sought a chance to be able to defend their side.
They had attempted to meet Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Monday night, August 17, as he held a meeting with his Cabinet colleagues on the demand to cancel the JPSC-JSSC exam.
Led by student leader Devendra Nath Mahato, the JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch spearheaded the agitation for over two weeks over alleged corruption and irregularities in job exams. They had made two key demands: 1. Cancellation of the recruitment exams, and 2. A CBI-led probe into alleged irregularities.
After the Jharkhand government announced the cancellation of the exams, Mahato said he would call off his hunger strike. “Action has certainly been taken regarding the irregularities and malpractice that plagued the system—the very issues we fought against, even risking our lives during the agitation. While our demands have been met, we cannot say we are fully satisfied yet, as a long battle still lies ahead,” he said.
