Kathmandu— Following days of protests and negotiations with student organizations, Jharkhand Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar accepted the resignations of three members of the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) on Sunday. The state government responded to allegations of irregularities in recruitment examinations by announcing a multi-pronged action plan that includes investigations by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED), alongside the establishment of a fast-track court to expedite legal proceedings, and an expert committee for broader reforms.

JPSC Member Resignations Accepted

The resignations of Ajita Bhattacharya, Anima Hansda, and Jamal Ahmed from the JPSC were accepted by Governor Gangwar based on a recommendation from the state government. This move comes after sustained protests alleging irregularities in both the JPSC and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC) recruitment processes.

Government Announces Investigation Plan

The Jharkhand government unveiled an action plan to address the alleged irregularities, which includes a CID probe into the 14th JPSC exam and 2023-25 backlog recruitments. Additionally, the government will request an ED investigation due to suspected financial improprieties and evidence of illicit transactions. Minister Sudivya Kumar Sonu stated that criminal aspects would be handled by the CID, while the ED probe would focus on the financial implications.

Fast-Track Court and Recruitment Reforms

To ensure swift justice, a fast-track court will be established to hear cases arising from the investigations, with charge sheets expected within 90 days. The government also agreed to form an expert committee comprised of representatives from IIT-ISM, IIM Ranchi, and XLRI to propose reforms to the recruitment process.

Student Demands Partially Met

Protesting students had demanded cancellation of the Combined Graduate Level (CGL) examination after 2019, along with a CBI investigation and greater transparency in the recruitment process. While the government accepted most demands, it maintained that cancelling the CGL exam was not possible due to ongoing judicial oversight by the High Court and Supreme Court. Instead, they proposed a monitoring committee headed by a retired judge, which students rejected.

The state government has indicated that it addressed nearly all of the protestors’ concerns, with the exception of the cancellation of the CGL exam, and hopes to bring an end to the agitation following three days of discussions.

(With inputs from ANI)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.