SUCCESSFUL candidates of recruitment exams cancelled by the Jharkhand Government staged a demonstration outside the State Secretariat onThursday, demanding restoration of their appointments, even as the Jharkhand High Court granted interim relief in some cases. The HC stayed notifications cancelling appointments made through the 11th and 13th Jharkhand Public Service Commission ( JPSC) examinations and those of Food Safety Officers. The interim order, however, does not cover all 22 exams cancelled by the state Government, leaving candidates selected through several other tests uncertain about their appointments. The Government on August 18 cancelled 22 recruitment examinations and ordered probes into 23 others conducted since 2014 by the JPSC, Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC) and outsourced agency TDPL, amid a prolonged student agitation over alleged irregularities.

 

Around 2,700 successful candidates, including those selected through the JSSC Combined Graduate Level examination, have been protesting the cancellations. They contend that candidates selected on merit should not lose their jobs because of alleged irregularities and have approached the HC seeking relief. Meanwhile, the CID’s Special Investigation Team (SIT) issued notices and interrogated 37 suspects in connection with the alleged irregularities in Graduate Level Combined Competitive Examination2023 conducted by the JSSC on Thursday. The High Court, while hearing petitions against the Government notifications, directed the State to file its response by September 15. The order brought relief to 54 Food Safety Officers, who welcomed the decision outside the Secretariat and said they would resume duty from Friday. Meanwhile, the JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch questioned the State Government’s intent, alleging that neither the Advocate General nor any senior advocate was present in the High Court to contest the stay order. The outfit announced that it would burn effigies of Chief Minister Hemant Soren in all 24 districts on Friday