Jharkhand Protest Latest Update: Students demand probe by retired HC judges, announce Assembly march on Aug 7

Job aspirants protesting against alleged paper leaks and other irregularities in Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) recruitment drives have rejected the ongoing Criminal Investigation Department (CID) probe. They demanded that the investigation should be handed over either to Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or an independent panel of retired High Court judges from outside Jharkhand.

The students have been staging an indefinite sit-in at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium in Ranchi since July 29. In a latest update, they have alleged that the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)-led government was attempting to "whitewash" the issue by entrusting investigation to CID. Earlier, they had sought a CBI probe along with an Enforcement Directorate (ED) investigation, alleging large-scale financial transactions in the purported recruitment scam.

"We have completely lost faith in the ongoing CID investigation. Earlier, the government got the JSSC-CGL paper leak probed by the CID. The agency itself found that answers to 135 of the 150 questions had been leaked and 120 questions matched the examination paper exactly," aspirant Vinay Mehta from Hazaribag told PTI.

He alleged that despite candidates submitting documentary evidence through emails and WhatsApp, authorities neither acknowledged nor acted on the complaints. "Therefore, we demand that the investigation be handed over either to the CBI or to an independent body of retired High Court judges, excluding any judge from Jharkhand," he said.

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March to Jharkhand assembly

The students have announced a march to the Jharkhand Assembly on August 7, and have warned that the agitation would intensify if their demands are not met. The protesters will also pay tribute to former Jharkhand chief minister Shibu Soren on his first death anniversary before continuing their agitation.

Political support

The protest entered its 11th day today (on August 4), drawing support from several political leaders and organisations. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma extended his "moral support" to the students and urged the Jharkhand government to immediately accept their demands.

"During the Jharkhand Assembly elections, I had the opportunity to closely witness the pain, anger and concerns of JSSC-CGL aspirants regarding the recruitment process. I can well understand the feelings of the students who are protesting today for their future and for justice," Sarma said in a post on X.

He alleged that the situation could have been avoided had the JMM-led government acted with "sensitivity and transparency" on the students' complaints in time. "I express my moral support for this just movement of Jharkhand's students and youth and urge the state government to immediately accept the legitimate demands of the students and deliver justice to them," he added.

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Aam Aadmi Party leader Manish Sisodia also backed the protesters, saying paper leaks were not limited to a single examination but affected the future of millions of students. "I stand firmly with the students of Jharkhand who are fighting for their rights. The government should listen to their concerns," Sisodia said on X.

Meanwhile, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren announced formation of a high-level committee to engage with the protesting students. The committee have been told to submit its report within one to three months.

JMM MLA Kalpana Soren said the state government was "very sensitive" towards the issues raised by the students and was working to resolve them.

Referring to the JSSC-CGL examination , Leader of the Opposition Babulal Marandi claimed candidates with lower marks were selected while those with higher scores were left out, indicating serious irregularities. Marandi alleged that similar malpractices had occurred in the 14th JPSC and Excise Constable recruitment examinations. He also accused the state government of attempting to cover up the matter through the ongoing CID investigation.