Supreme Court Seeks Centre, Jharkhand Reply on CBI Probe into JPSC Exam Irregularities

The Supreme Court on Monday sought responses from the Central and Jharkhand governments, as well as the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC), on a plea demanding an independent investigation into alleged irregularities in the Jharkhand Combined Civil Services Preliminary Examination. The petition, filed in public interest, requests either a CBI inquiry or a probe monitored by a former Supreme Court judge. The petition also calls for urgent intervention to restore confidence in the recruitment process.

A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant, Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana issued the notice after hearing senior advocate Manan Kumar Mishra, who appeared for the petitioner, Harisharan Devgan. The petition, filed under Article 32 of the Constitution, expresses serious concerns about the "integrity, fairness, transparency and credibility" of the examination conducted on April 19. It states that the examination was held pursuant to Advertisement No. 01/2026.

The petitioner has argued that the alleged irregularities constitute a serious breach of the right to equality and public employment under Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution. The plea also asserts that urgent intervention is required to preserve the credibility of the selection process. It seeks a direction for a CBI investigation, or alternatively, for an inquiry by a retired Supreme Court judge, to ensure a credible and time-bound probe.

The development comes as protests continue in various parts of Jharkhand over the alleged malpractices, including reported leaks of question papers. In Ranchi, a protest by the JPSC-JSSC Reform Forum on Friday led to clashes. The forum had called upon students to burn effigies of the Chief Minister in response to a recent High Court decision related to the examination.

Ranchi Police have registered three FIRs in connection with the violence. According to police, the cases were filed at the Kotwali police station, naming 14 people and over 200 unidentified individuals. The police stated that protesters had breached the designated route, compelling law enforcement to use "mild force."

Jharkhand Leader of Opposition Babulal Marandi alleged that workers of the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) were "deliberately deployed" during the protest and attacked demonstrators with sticks and batons. He also claimed that police were absent from the scene. "JMM goons were visible, armed with sticks and batons, and they even beat up young people," Marandi said.

The protests and the legal petition underscore the deep unease among civil services aspirants over the fairness of the examination. The JPSC exam is a critical pathway for recruitment to state administrative posts, and allegations of leaks and malpractices have triggered widespread demands for accountability. The outcome will affect the future of thousands of candidates who appeared for the test, and many fear that fraudulent practices could disadvantage honest applicants.

The Supreme Court has asked the Centre, the Jharkhand government, and the JPSC to file their responses. The matter will be heard further as the court considers whether to order an independent investigation into the allegations. The court will next examine the plea after receiving the responses.