Jharkhand HC forms single-member panel to probe teacher recruitment irregularities

Ranchi- The Jharkhand High Court on Monday appointed a one-member fact-finding commission, led by retired Justice Dr. S.N. Pathak, to investigate alleged irregularities in the merit list for high school teacher appointments.

Justice Deepak Roshan, presiding over a single-judge bench, issued a 75-page order detailing the scope of the inquiry. The commission has been instructed to conclude its investigation within three months and submit a report.

The court said the probe must cover issues such as the number of candidates appointed by the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC), the surrender of sanctioned posts, and the reasons for such surrenders.

To ensure transparency, the court also asked the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and the JSSC to set up “fact-finding counters” where candidates can obtain recruitment details without resorting to litigation.

Petitioners claimed that the 2016 merit list contained glaring discrepancies, alleging that lower-scoring candidates were appointed over more qualified applicants. They also cited inconsistencies in the state government’s affidavits about sanctioned posts.

Senior advocates Ajit Kumar, Indrajit Sinha, and Aparajita Bhardwaj appeared for the petitioners, while Advocate General Rajiv Ranjan represented the JSSC with counsels Sanjay Piperwal and Prince Kumar Singh.

The commission’s report will guide the court’s future decisions on the recruitment controversy and bring clarity on the sanctioned posts.

With inputs from IANS