THE students protesting alleged irregularities in recruitment exams on Sunday remained adamant on their demand for a CBI probe despite Chief Minister Hemant Soren and Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar promising justice to them. A fresh round of talks between the Government and students failed to achieve any breakthrough despite the authorities claiming that they accepted 98 per cent of their demands, barring one for a CBI probe into the JSSC-CGL exam’s alleged irregularities. “Most of our demands have been met, including the demand for cancellation of 14th JPSC exam. But we will not compromise till our demand for a CBI probe is fulfilled. We will continue our proposed march to the Jharkhand assembly on August 10,” student leader Ravindra Paswan said after the sixth round of talks with a Government panel. Technical and Higher Education Minister and panel member Sudivya Kumar said the Government has accepted 98 per cent of the demands, but it is not in a position to accept one for the CBI probe into JSSCCGL exam, as it was conducted under the monitoring of the High Court and Supreme Court. “We held positive dialogue with students; the Jharkhand Government will recommend an ED probe into financial irregularities in the Jharkhand Public Service Commission exam. Now they will take a final call whether to withdraw the agitation or not,” Kumar said.

 

He also announced setting up a fast-track court that will file chargesheet within 90 days in exam irregularities cases. “A panel will also be formed with experts drawn from IITISM Dhanbad, IIM Ranchi and XLRI Jamshedpur to suggest examination reforms,” he said, adding that the Government has also consented to set up a panel under a retired HC judge for JSSC-CGL examination probe. The Jharkhand Government committee set up to talk to students protesting the alleged recruitment exam irregularities, on Sunday talked to Devendra Nath Mahto, one of the individuals who has been on an indefinite hunger strike for the past eight days, an official said. The condition of Mahto had deteriorated around 3 am. Doctors found that his blood glucose level was low. Talking to Mahto through a video call, Higher and Technical Education Minister Sudivya Kumar, a member of the panel, inquired about his health and assured him that talks were underway and the issue would be resolved during the day. Mahto said that another panel member, minister Dipika Pandey Singh, also urged him to end the hunger strike. Mahto said he would decide on it only after the delegates of the protesters returned from the meeting with the panel. CLEARED EXAMS, BUT STILL NO JOB: JHARKHAND ASPIRANT CONTINUES HUNGER STRIKE FROM ICU: A GOVERNMENT job has remained tantalisingly close yet frustratingly out of reach for Rahul Kranti. Now, even as he lies in an ICU after six days without food, the 40-year-old refuses to give up his fight. Kranti, who claims to have cleared several job examinations but is yet to get a job, is among the six protesters on hunger strike over alleged irregularities in Jharkhand’s recruitment process.