Jharkhand cancels JSSC-CGL exam, students continue protest for CBI probe

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren announced late on Monday the cancellation of the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission-Combined Graduate Level (JSSC-CGL) examination and all recruitment tests conducted since 2014 by the outsourced agency TSR Data Processing Private Limited (TDPL). The decision, taken during a Cabinet meeting, came 24 days after students began protesting alleged irregularities in state recruitment exams. Student leaders Devendra Nath Mahto, Umme Habiba, and Rahul Kranti ended their hunger strikes, with Mahto breaking his 16-day fast at Sadar Hospital in the presence of Ministers Dipika Pandey Singh and Irfan Ansari.

The Hindu reports that the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) conducted raids at the JSSC office and arrested 20 people, including former JPSC chairman L. Khiangte. Minister Pandey Singh said the government would set a 90-day deadline for the CID to file a charge sheet and process the case through a fast-track court. She said reforms would be based on student suggestions and would be a model for the entire country. A committee under IAS officer Amitabh Kaushal has been formed to recommend examination reforms.

However, the JPSC-JSSC Reform Manch, which is leading the protest, said the agitation would continue as the government has not accepted its demand for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe. Spokesperson Ravindra Paswan said the Manch would study the government's notification before deciding the next step. Separately, the Hindustan Times reports that hundreds of candidates who had cleared the now-cancelled JSSC-CGL exam gathered at the state secretariat to protest the cancellation and are likely to approach the court.