Jharkhand Government cancels all TDPL-linked exams; protesters demand CBI probe
The JSSC CGL examination, which had been at the centre of the students’ protest, will also be cancelled
After 24 days of student protests over alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations in Ranchi, the Jharkhand Government on Monday night announced the cancellation of all examinations and the entire recruitment process conducted by private agency TDPL, including results already declared.
Also read: Jharkhand Govt invites students agitating over job exam ‘irregularities’ for fresh rounds of talks
Chief Minister Hemant Soren announced the decision after a prolonged meeting with protesting students, saying the government had decided to scrap “everything” linked to TDPL after considering all aspects of the controversy.
The decision covers examinations conducted by TDPL, results already declared, candidates selected or appearing in the examinations and other activities undertaken by the agency. The JSSC CGL examination, which had been at the centre of the students’ protest, will also be cancelled.
The announcement brought relief and celebrations among a section of JPSC and JSSC aspirants who had been protesting and sitting on hunger strike for weeks. Soren said the government would not let students down and announced steps to improve the recruitment and examination system.
Student leader Devendra Nath Mahato welcomed the decision and thanked students, their parents, media personnel and the police administration for supporting the movement. He also thanked Soren and the Jharkhand Government for taking the students’ concerns seriously and accepting their demands.
Mahato said he was satisfied with the ongoing probe into the alleged irregularities. He said the administration was investigating the matter thoroughly; action was being taken against those involved and the government was taking concrete steps to reach the “masterminds” behind the alleged racket.
Jharkhand minister Irfan Ansari said the government had accepted the students’ primary demand. Following an agreement, he said, the JSSC CGL examination and all other examinations conducted under TDPL would be cancelled.
But the decision has not ended the agitation. The government accepted almost all of the students’ major demands, except the demand for a CBI probe.
Students opposing the decision said cancellation of the examinations alone did not settle the question of an impartial investigation or action against those responsible if irregularities had occurred. One section has, therefore, said it will continue the agitation until a CBI probe is ordered.
The students had earlier announced plans to gherao the Chief Minister’s residence on August 20. While the programme could now be reconsidered, those demanding a CBI probe have indicated that their protest will continue.
The government’s decision has thus brought relief to many protesters, but left the central dispute over the probe unresolved.
