The Jharkhand High Court has temporarily stayed the state government’s decision to cancel 22 recruitment examinations conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC), providing relief to successful candidates whose appointments were affected.
Chief Minister Hemant Soren had announced on Monday night that several recruitment examinations would be cancelled following allegations of irregularities and question-paper leaks. A government notification was issued shortly afterwards. However, the decision was challenged before the Jharkhand High Court through four petitions filed by successful candidates.
The petitioners included candidates who had cleared the 11th and 13th JPSC Combined Civil Services examinations, the JPSC Combined Graduate Level examination and the Food Safety Officer examination. They argued that the government had taken the decision unilaterally without giving successful candidates an opportunity to present their case.
Several petitioners had already been selected and joined government service, with some reportedly leaving other jobs after receiving their appointments. They argued that cancelling the examinations and recruitment process had created serious uncertainty over their careers and livelihoods. The High Court acknowledged the substance of these concerns while issuing its interim order.
The government’s decision came amid prolonged protests in Ranchi over alleged irregularities and question-paper leaks in recruitment examinations. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had also written to Soren, describing the protesting students’ demands as legitimate and urging the chief minister to meet their representatives.
Soren subsequently announced that not only would the disputed examinations be cancelled, but alleged irregularities in recruitment tests conducted since 2014 would also be investigated.
The latest court order could now intensify the ongoing debate over recruitment examinations in Jharkhand.
