JPSC-JSSC forum seeks withdrawal of cases against exam protesters

The JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch, which had led a 26-day protest by job aspirants in Jharkhand against alleged exam irregularities, urged Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Saturday to withdraw cases registered against students across the state during the stir.

They also demanded legal action against officials who had resorted to lathi-charge on demonstrators during the protest.

"Students staged a peaceful and democratic protest for 26 days against large-scale irregularities in various examinations conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC).

"During and after this period, FIRs were registered at various police stations in Jharkhand in an attempt to suppress student voices," the forum wrote in a letter to the chief minister.

Referring to the Supreme Court ordering the quashing of FIRs against students across the country over protests against the NEET paper leak issue, the forum highlighted that FIRs have not been withdrawn against those who took part in the stir against alleged exam irregularities in Jharkhand.

"We demand immediate withdrawal of the FIRs lodged against students at various police stations in Jharkhand, registration of FIRs and taking appropriate legal action against the police personnel and JMM workers who chased and assaulted students, and recommending a high-level investigation by the CBI into the irregularities that have occurred in JPSC and JSSC examinations since 2014," it said in the letter.

At least six FIRs were lodged against more than 50 named and over 1,100 unnamed people in connection with clashes between police and protesting job aspirants in Ranchi, Giridih and Hazaribag on August 23 during protest marches.

Students and job aspirants under the banner of JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch staged protests against alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations from July 25.

The protest was withdrawn after the Jharkhand government on August 18 announced the cancellation of a host of recruitment tests, including the JSSC-CGL-2023 conducted on September 21 and 22, 2024.

However, the Jharkhand High Court put a stay on the government's decision to cancel certain exams, including the JSSC-CGL-2023, based on a plea by successful candidates who fear job loss.