Daijiworld Media Network – Ranchi
Ranchi, Aug 9: The Jharkhand government is likely to cancel the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) Preliminary Test (PT) examination amid a 16-day-long protest by students over alleged irregularities in the recruitment process, sources said.
The state government is also prepared to order investigations by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) into the alleged irregularities in the backlog examinations, according to sources.
The government has reportedly accepted most of the demands raised by the protesting students. However, the demand for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the alleged irregularities remains unresolved.
Sources said the government has conveyed its position to the main student group and has agreed to several of their demands. It has also assured that a chargesheet in the case will be filed within 90 days.
The state government, however, is not willing to cancel all examinations in which Abhay Tiwari appeared. Tiwari is among those accused in connection with the alleged examination irregularities and reportedly cleared 12 examinations over the past 13 years.
Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren has assured protesting students that they will get justice and said those responsible for irregularities in the JPSC examinations would face stringent punishment.
Speaking at a public rally, Soren said the government's actions had enabled young people to come forward and raise their concerns.
"Our youth are staging protests and agitations to claim their rights. It is precisely because of our government's actions that they have found the courage to step forward, protest, and demand their due, for we have exposed the wrongdoing. The youth will receive justice, and those responsible for the irregularities will face the severest possible punishment," he said.
The students have been demanding cancellation of the JPSC PT examination conducted on April 19, a CBI investigation into the alleged irregularities and reforms in the examination process.
The development comes as a CID team has summoned three sitting JPSC members for questioning in connection with the alleged examination irregularities.
Soren also criticised opposition parties, accusing them of attempting to mislead young people by mixing "truth with falsehood".
He urged students not to seek political patronage and said their demand for justice was a legitimate right.
"Some people harbour vast political ambitions, and these very ambitions create an avenue for political parties to mislead the younger generation. I would say this specifically to the youth that they do not need our political patronage or that of any other political party," Soren said.
He stressed that dialogue, rather than force, should be used to resolve disputes.
"The solution to every issue lies in dialogue, not in the use of batons or bullets," the chief minister said.
Soren further assured the protesting youth that their concerns were also the government's concerns and promised that the matter would be handled transparently.
"Occupying this constitutional office today, I assure you completely that justice will be served with transparency, and we will ensure that this justice is visibly demonstrated," he said.