Jharkhand CM Soren addresses recruitment row: 'Decisions at appropriate time' amid protests

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Tuesday broke his silence on the ongoing recruitment row, stating that his government is examining the concerns of protesting job aspirants with "complete seriousness". He assured that decisions will be announced at the "appropriate time" after all aspects of the alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations are thoroughly scrutinised.

Hundreds of job aspirants have been holding an indefinite sit-in at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium in Ranchi since July 29. They have intensified their agitation, demanding that the alleged irregularities in the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and other recruitment examinations be investigated by an independent panel of retired high court judges from outside the state.

"With close scrutiny and complete seriousness, decisions addressing their demands and queries will be announced at the appropriate time. I am confident that the protesters will be reassured," Soren told reporters in Ranchi, according to news agency PTI.

Responding to questions about the ongoing investigation, the chief minister said probe agencies were looking into every allegation related to the recruitment examinations. "The way the investigation team is active, wherever any kind of mistakes have happened or are happening, all those things are being thoroughly examined, and after everything comes out, the government's decisions will also certainly come forward," he said.

The protesters, however, have expressed a lack of faith in the state CID, alleging that the JMM-led government was attempting to "whitewash" the issue by entrusting the investigation to it. They had earlier demanded a CBI probe along with an investigation by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), claiming large-scale financial transactions were linked to the alleged recruitment scam. On Tuesday, they revised their demand, seeking an inquiry by an independent panel of retired high court judges from outside Jharkhand.

"We have completely lost faith in the ongoing CID investigation," job aspirant Vinay Mehta from Hazaribagh told PTI. He alleged that during the earlier JSSC-CGL paper leak investigation, the CID itself found that answers to 135 out of 150 questions had been leaked, with 120 questions matching the examination paper exactly, but no meaningful action followed despite candidates submitting evidence. "Therefore, we demand that the investigation be handed over either to the CBI or to an independent body of retired High Court judges, excluding any judge from Jharkhand," Mehta said.

Former Jharkhand chief minister Raghubar Das also urged Soren to engage directly with the protesting students and consider their demand for a CBI investigation. Addressing a press conference in Jamshedpur, Das said he had written to the chief minister, requesting him to initiate dialogue with the agitating youths.

"The students have not taken to the streets without reason. They are protesting against serious allegations of corruption and irregularities in recruitment examinations. The government should talk to them directly and ensure justice, including considering their demand for a CBI inquiry," Das said. He added that he had written the letter not as a former chief minister or with any political motive, but as someone who understood student movements, recalling that his own political journey began during the JP movement of 1974.

Das also alleged that the protesting students were not being provided basic facilities such as tents, drinking water or healthcare despite their peaceful agitation. He warned that the protest could escalate if the government failed to respond.

The ongoing protest has drawn attention to the broader issue of transparency in recruitment examinations in the state. The government has not yet indicated a timeline for a decision on the protesters' demands, and the situation remains tense as the sit-in enters its second week.