Jharkhand PSC members quit en masse amid recruitment exam irregularities probe
In a major development, all three members of the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) resigned on Sunday, a month after the state police's Criminal Investigation Department (CID) began probing alleged irregularities, including paper leaks, in recruitment examinations conducted by the agency.
Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar accepted the resignations of Ajeeta Bhattacharya, Anima Hansda and Jamal Ahmad, according to an official statement from the Lok Bhavan, the state secretariat.
The resignations came after the CID summoned the three members for questioning in connection with the alleged irregularities. The move follows the resignation of JPSC chairperson L. Khiangte on July 22.
According to official sources, 19 people have been arrested so far in connection with the alleged malpractices in the JPSC examinations. Mr. Khiangte has been questioned four times since July 28.
The JPSC has been at the centre of a controversy over multiple recruitment tests held in recent years. Candidates and their families have held protests in Ranchi and other districts, alleging that question papers were leaked and that the selection process was compromised.
In response, the state government ordered a CID probe, and the commission's functioning came under scrutiny. The resignations are seen as a significant step towards accountability, though the investigation is still underway.
The state government has not yet announced who will lead the commission or how pending recruitment processes will be handled. Officials said the administration is working to ensure that transparent and fair examinations are conducted in the future.
The JPSC conducts recruitment for various state services, including administrative and police posts. More than one lakh candidates appear for these examinations each year, making the integrity of the process a matter of public concern.
Political parties have reacted to the resignations, with some demanding a full judicial inquiry and others calling for immediate overhaul of the commission. However, the government has not made any formal announcement in this regard.
The CID continues its investigation, and further arrests are possible. The resignations of the three members and the earlier resignation of the chairperson leave the JPSC without a single full-time member, which may affect its ability to function until new appointments are made.
Citizens and aspirants have welcomed the resignations as a step towards restoring trust in the recruitment process, though many stress that the larger investigation must be completed to bring all those responsible to justice.
