Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Monday announced the cancellation of the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission Combined Graduate Level (JSSC-CGL) examination amid a 24-day protest by job aspirants over alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations.
The state Cabinet also decided to cancel all examinations and recruitment activities conducted through outsourced agency TSR Data Processing Pvt Ltd (TDPL) since 2014.
Soren said the decision was taken after considering the concerns raised by protesting students and the findings emerging from ongoing investigations.
“Addressing all aspects of the issue, we have decided to cancel everything associated with TDPL—including the examinations conducted, the results published, the candidates selected or who participated, and all other activities carried out by TDPL,” Soren said.
Probe into exams conducted since 2014
The Chief Minister announced a comprehensive investigation into examinations conducted since 2014, saying both the CID and a special investigation team would examine alleged irregularities.
“All exams conducted from 2014 will be investigated by CID,” Soren said.
He added that investigations had already brought several “incriminating facts” to light and that some people recruited through the JSSC had been arrested in connection with alleged examination fraud and manipulation.
Soren also said a separate inquiry headed by a retired judge would look into the irregularities.
The Chief Minister acknowledged that the state already had a standard operating procedure (SOP) for conducting recruitment examinations but said it had not been properly followed.
“We already have the SOP. But the SOPs were not abided by. That’s why irregularities were seen in exams conducted in the recent past,” he said.
Students had demanded cancellation of JSSC-CGL
Job aspirants have been protesting in Jharkhand for 24 days, demanding action over alleged irregularities in several recruitment examinations.
One of their major demands was the cancellation of the JSSC-CGL examination held in September 2024. Protesters had alleged that the question paper was leaked and claimed that “out of 135 questions, 120 were leaked”.
The students have also demanded reforms in the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and JSSC and sought a CBI investigation into alleged examination irregularities.
The protest had intensified in recent days, with some students also observing hunger strikes.
CID raids JSSC office
On Monday, the Jharkhand CID conducted raids at the JSSC office as part of its investigation into alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations.
“We are conducting raids at the JSSC office in connection with alleged irregularities in various examinations,” CID ADG Manoj Kaushik said.
The CID has arrested 20 people in connection with the wider examination irregularities case, including former JPSC chairman L Khiangte.
Khiangte was arrested on August 10, a day after all three JPSC members resigned amid mounting protests by job aspirants.
Government promises examination reforms
Soren said the government had already enacted legislation to protect students from examination fraud and was committed to further reforms.
He also said a portal had been created to receive complaints from students. The grievances submitted through the portal will be examined by an expert team.
Amitabh Kaushal will head the government’s reform initiative, Soren said.
The Chief Minister said the government would work towards making the recruitment system more transparent and ensuring that existing rules are properly implemented.
