RANCHI, Aug 18: The Jharkhand government on Tuesday cancelled the JSSC-CGL examination and all other recruitment examinations conducted by private agency TDPL, following a 24-day student protest over alleged irregularities in the recruitment process.
The decision was taken at a special Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Hemant Soren and was welcomed by protesting students at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium in Ranchi, who celebrated by distributing sweets and applying gulal.
The Cabinet also decided to examine recruitment examinations conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC) since 2014. A committee headed by IAS officer Amitabh Kaushal will be constituted to recommend reforms in the examination system.
The government’s decision, however, did not resolve the demand for a CBI probe. While the JPSC-JSSC Nyay Manch announced suspension of its agitation for now, student leader Ravindra Paswan said the Reform Manch would continue its protest until a CBI inquiry is ordered into the alleged irregularities.
Meanwhile, Minister Deepika Pandey Singh, Health Minister Irfan Ansari and MLA Jairam Kumar visited Sadar Hospital and ended the hunger strike of Devendra Nath Mahato and other protesting students by offering them juice. Mahato thanked the government, saying the decision addressed major demands of the protesters.
The cancellation also triggered concern among candidates who had already been selected through the JSSC-CGL examination. Several appointed candidates gathered outside Project Bhawan in Ranchi and raised concerns over their jobs and future.
The Reform Manch is expected to announce its detailed position and future course of action, particularly on the unresolved demand for a CBI probe. (Agencies)