Jharkhand HC stays order cancelling JPSC exam appointments

Jharkhand High Court on Thursday stayed the government notification that cancelled appointments made through the 11th to 13th Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) exams, providing relief to about 450 candidates. The court also stayed the order cancelling appointments of food safety officers. The next hearing is on September 15, and the state has been asked to submit its reply.

The state government had cancelled 22 exams, including the JSSC-CGL examination and all recruitment tests conducted by TSR Data Processing Pvt Ltd since 2014, after an ongoing CID probe into alleged irregularities. Chief Minister Hemant Soren announced the cancellations following weeks of student protests demanding action against exam malpractices. The Hindu reports the court observed the cancellation violates natural justice. Times of India notes the government has set up an exam reforms committee under IAS officer Amitabh Kaushal.

However, candidates who had cleared the cancelled exams and secured government jobs protested the decision, arguing successful candidates should not be penalised unless wrongdoing is proven against them individually. Hindustan Times reports they filed petitions in the high court challenging the government's decision, saying action should target only those found guilty of irregularities.