U.P. job aspirants to hold 'Hunkar Panchayat' on August 25, seek transparent recruitment

Government job aspirants in Uttar Pradesh have announced a 'Hunkar Panchayat' (student assembly) on August 25 to press for transparency, accountability, and time-bound recruitment by state commissions. The decision was made on Tuesday by the Sanyukt Pratiyogi Chhatra Hunkar Manch, a Prayagraj-based group of competitive exam aspirants, which invited students from across the state to participate.

The panchayat's key demands include timely declaration of results, filling of vacant posts, strict action against paper leaks, and an overhaul of the recruitment process. Aspirants have voiced concerns over prolonged delays, irregularities at examination centres, and lack of a fair opportunity for lakhs of candidates.

Pankaj Pandey, convenor of the Manch, said that problems such as waiting lists, paper leaks, exam irregularities, delayed results, and unresolved complaints have severely impacted students' futures. “The pain of students is no longer limited to one exam or one recruitment. It is time to raise this voice forcefully before the government and all major recruitment commissions — the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC), the Uttar Pradesh Subordinate Services Selection Commission (UPSSSC), and the Uttar Pradesh Education Service Selection Commission (UPESSC),” he said.

Pandey emphasised that the movement is not against any individual but aims to improve the system. “We will raise our voice for justice, transparency, and employment. The panchayat will be held in Prayagraj or Lucknow,” he added. He noted that students are being forced to protest for declaration of results, citing the recent VPO (Village Panchayat Officer) exam result that was declared only after continuous protests.

Another aspirant, Vivek Singh, highlighted that vacancies for primary and secondary teachers have not been advertised for over five years. “Lakhs of aspirants are hopeless. We have raised concerns over irregularities, mismanagement at examination centres, lack of transparency, and prolonged delays in recruitment processes for various exams including VPO, Junior Assistant, Teachers, and Lekhpal,” he said.

The Congress party has also weighed in, demanding a white paper on the time taken to complete recruitment tests. Shahnawaz Alam, national secretary of the Congress, compared the timelines of central and state recruitment bodies. “UPSC, the most prestigious exam, completes its three-stage process in less than a year. U.P. commissions take over four years for a single exam. This is a criminal act of murdering young aspirants' futures,” he said.

The Hunkar Panchayat is expected to bring together aspirants from various districts to deliberate on these issues and chart a course of action. Organisers said they are in touch with students across the state and have issued a call for participation. The exact venue is yet to be finalised, with Prayagraj and Lucknow as possible locations.

This development comes amid growing unrest among job seekers in Uttar Pradesh, who have repeatedly demanded reforms in the recruitment process. The aspirants have called for a transparent and accountable system that ensures timely recruitment and protects the interests of the youth.