Jharkhand govt ready to cancel 14th JPSC PT and backlog exams, says Hemant Soren

Amid the continuing agitation by students over alleged irregularities in JPSC and JSSC recruitment examinations, Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Tuesday said the Jharkhand government was ready to cancel the 14th Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) Preliminary Examination and the backlog examinations.

Addressing the Assembly, Soren said the government would also investigate examinations conducted by TDPL, the agency associated with the conduct of JPSC examinations. He further announced plans to seek technical and academic expertise from premier institutions such as the IITs and IIMs to overhaul the state's recruitment examination system.

The Chief Minister said the government wanted to make the recruitment process more transparent, credible and secure, particularly in view of the concerns raised by students and aspirants. He indicated that the proposed reforms would focus on strengthening the examination system and reducing the possibility of irregularities in future recruitment tests.

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Soren also questioned the credentials and background of TDPL, alleging that the agency was based in Uttar Pradesh and had links with Bihar. He said agencies entrusted with conducting examinations should not be allowed to compromise the future of Jharkhand's youth.

“The government will not hesitate to order investigations into examinations where complaints, allegations or doubts have been raised,” Soren said, reiterating that the administration was committed to addressing students' grievances and ensuring justice.

However, the Chief Minister's address was marked by repeated sloganeering and protests by Opposition members in the Assembly. Soren hit back at the BJP, accusing its leaders of attempting to use the student movement for political gain.

He alleged that Opposition leaders were approaching students under the guise of supporting their agitation while pursuing their own political interests. According to Soren, such actions were misleading young aspirants rather than helping resolve their concerns.

Responding to the disruption in the House, Soren said those who frequently spoke about protecting democracy were themselves undermining the dignity of the Assembly through their conduct.

Referring to Monday's march by protesting students towards the Assembly, the Chief Minister said the administration and police had exercised restraint. He pointed out that security restrictions are normally imposed around constitutional institutions such as state Assemblies, Parliament and Legislative Councils, yet the protesters managed to reach close to the Assembly premises.

Soren also accused the Opposition of creating confusion among students by operating through different platforms and identities. He alleged that attempts were being made to obstruct the investigation process and prevent it from reaching its logical conclusion.

The Chief Minister maintained that the government was focused on resolving the concerns of students and improving the recruitment process rather than allowing the issue to become a prolonged political confrontation.

Taking another political swipe at the BJP, Soren quoted lines from a poem to suggest that the Opposition's political decline was not yet over. “There is still room for further decline,” he remarked, adding that the process had only just begun.