The Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) issue rocked the Jharkhand Assembly again on Monday with Opposition members seeking an adjournment motion demanding scrapping of the Mains examination, which commenced today.
As the session began, Opposition leaders, including Leader of Opposition in House, Hemant Soren, raised the issue with a demand to scrap the Mains examination. Assembly speaker, Dinesh Oraon too was upset with Government’s inability to provide any satisfactory answers over the issue.
The House in current session has been witnessing noisy scenes with members from Opposition disrupting the Assembly proceedings. However, today the Speaker became upset and emotional after witnessing the House proceedings.
He said, “If the Government is unable to solve issue pertaining to public interest then there is no need of conducting the Assembly Session. I know the power of chair. The issue of sixth JPSC is pending since 2015 the Government should look into the matter,” he said.
Presenting Government stand, parliamentary affairs Minister, Neelkanth Singh Munda in house said, “The Jharkhand High Court has refused to put a stay on the examination.
The examination is being conducted as per JPSC norms and there are no anomalies in the examination procedure. The Government has already removed JPSC secretary, Jagjit Singh as it came to fore that his son is one of the candidates in the examination.”
State Food and Civic Supplies Minister Saryu Roy, said, outside the house, “If the speaker had given such a remark than it is shocking and embarrassing for Government. The Government should look into the issue seriously.”
The Speaker’s remark on JPSC issue assume importance as not only Opposition but even members from ruling parties are united over the issue. The 18-year-old Jharkhand had conducted JPSC examinations for five times, with examinations marred with corruption, nepotisms and other anomalies such as non-compliance of reservation roaster and others.
The sixth JPSC examination which started today too has lots of controversies, such as reservation roaster has not been followed, issuance of admit cards to candidates which is 106 times more than the sanctioned seats among others, said Opposition party leaders.
After the Speaker made the observation, Hemant Soren demanded the Government to postpone the examination in larger interest of students. He said, “My demand is not for cancellation of examination, the Government in larger interest of students should postpone the examination.”
He said, “The Government should postpone the examination and after consulting with all stakeholders including members from treasury and oppositions, Government should announce fresh date.”
The opposition members holding placards entered the well of House demanding government reply over the issue. The Opposition members raising slogans against the government kept on raising the issue.
Later the Speaker adjourned the House till lunch. Post lunch when the session resumed, the Opposition members once again raised the issue. The house was later adjourned till Tuesday.