The Jharkhand High Court has temporarily stayed the state government’s decision to cancel the 11th and 13th Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) examinations and the appointments made through these recruitment processes.
The order has brought relief to candidates who had successfully cleared the examinations and, in several cases, had already joined government departments.
High Court Steps In After Candidates Challenge Government Order
The court issued the stay while hearing petitions filed by newly appointed officers who challenged the government’s decision.
The candidates argued that the government could not cancel the examinations and appointments collectively without first giving the affected candidates an opportunity to present their side.
Many of the petitioners had already taken charge of their respective government posts after being selected through the recruitment process.
Why Were JPSC and JSSC Exams Cancelled?
The Jharkhand government had taken action following investigations by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and a Special Investigation Team (SIT) into alleged irregularities in various competitive examinations.
The decision came after a prolonged student protest in the state. Students had staged an agitation for around 25 days, raising concerns over alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations conducted by JPSC and JSSC.
The government subsequently released a list covering 44 recruitment examinations that had been affected by the cancellation decision. It also announced plans to set up a committee to suggest reforms in the examination system of both recruitment commissions.
Several Major Government Recruitment Exams Affected
The examinations facing cancellation included recruitment tests for several important government positions.
These included:
- Drug inspectors
- Assistant professors
- Deputy collectors
- Dental doctors
- Assistant engineers
- Civil judges
- Additional public prosecutors
- Forest range officers
- Polytechnic lecturers
- Senior scientific officers
- Assistant conservators of forests
Various other administrative and technical recruitment examinations were also included in the government’s list.
Candidates Raise Natural Justice Concerns
The petitioners’ main contention was that cancelling an entire recruitment process could unfairly affect candidates who had no connection with the alleged irregularities.
They argued that if an investigation establishes wrongdoing against a particular candidate, action should be taken against that individual after following due process.
According to the petitioners, removing all selected candidates from their posts without giving them an opportunity to respond would violate the principles of natural justice.
What Does the High Court Stay Mean?
For now, the High Court’s intervention puts the government’s cancellation decision concerning the 11th and 13th JPSC examinations and related appointments on hold.
The case will be important for determining how the alleged irregularities are addressed while also protecting the rights of candidates who were selected and appointed through the recruitment process.
The latest development is expected to provide temporary relief to affected government employees, while the legal proceedings continue.
