JPSC Backs Cancellation of CDPO Recruitment, Seeks Dismissal of Plea in High Court

The Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) has filed an affidavit before the Jharkhand High Court defending the state government's decision to cancel the ongoing Child Development Project Officer (CDPO) recruitment process under Advertisement No. 21/2023.

The affidavit was filed by JPSC Deputy Secretary Sudhir Kumar in response to a petition challenging the government's decision. The commission has supported the cancellation and urged the High Court to dismiss the petition.

According to the commission, the state government issued a notification on August 18, 2026, cancelling the CDPO recruitment process. Subsequently, Subhash Murmu and others approached the High Court, challenging the notification and seeking a stay on its implementation.

In its response, JPSC argued that the state government took the decision after assessing the prevailing circumstances and in exercise of its administrative and executive powers. The commission maintained that merely because a recruitment process has reached a particular stage does not take away the government's authority to review, discontinue or cancel it.

The affidavit further states that the state government is the competent authority to frame policies concerning public employment and take administrative decisions. JPSC argued that the government can review and cancel a recruitment process if circumstances warrant such action.

The commission also told the court that the petitioners had failed to establish that the government's notification was issued beyond its legal jurisdiction or authority.

On these grounds, JPSC has requested the High Court to reject the petition, maintaining that the challenge to the cancellation does not merit judicial interference.

The Jharkhand High Court has not yet delivered its verdict on the petition challenging the cancellation of the CDPO recruitment process.

The court's eventual decision will determine whether the cancelled recruitment process can be revived or whether the government's decision to terminate it will stand.