Jharkhand JPSC-JSSC Protest Enters 13th Day As Students Form Panel For Talks With Govt

Ranchi: Even as students protesting against alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations conducted by Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC) entered its 13th day on Thursday, they have formed an 11-member committee to hold discussions with the Jharkhand government to end the deadlock.

Of the 11 members, eight are student representatives, two are journalists, and former advocate general Ajit Kumar as a legal expert. JPSC-JSSC Reform Forum core committee members -Ravindra Paswan and Piyush – demanded a CBI probe to ensure an impartial investigation, cancellation and re-conducting of the 14th JPSC Preliminary Examination, a fair investigation into all examinations conducted by the TDPL agency, permanently stopping incidents involving OMR sheets and paper leaks, and carrying out wide-ranging administrative and structural reforms in JPSC and JSSC. Students have also demanded strict action against those found responsible.

Earlier, the Jharkhand government also formed a five-member committee to hold talks with protesting students to end the deadlock.

Meanwhile, the Crime Investigation Department (CID) of Jharkhand has arrested five persons in connection with the alleged irregularities surrounding the JPSC exams. With these arrests, the number of people apprehended has swelled to 19.

On Wednesday, Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren started the dialogue process with the agitating students, saying that its doors were open to everyone, and anyone with grievances is free to present their views. He said paper leaks were a national problem and that discussion could solve the impasse.

Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) and the Additional District Magistrate (ADM) (Law and Order) visited Jaipal Singh Stadium with the government's official proposal for talks.

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The administration informed student leaders that CM agreed to meet with a delegation of protesting students. A meeting was scheduled at the Chief Minister's residence for this purpose, and a limited number of student representatives were invited. They urged the students to move towards a resolution through dialogue.

On the other hand, students have made it clear that they would not agree to closed-door negotiations and would hold the talks only in the presence of journalists and cameras.