India
oi-Prakash KL
In a major relief for newly appointed officers facing the prospect of losing jobs, the Jharkhand High Court has stayed the state government’s order cancelling two recruitment examinations conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC).
The court passed the interim order while hearing various petitions filed by the recruits against the government’s decision. The court has directed the state government to file its response and counter-affidavit within 15 days.
The Jharkhand High Court has stayed the state government’s order cancelling two Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) recruitment exams, granting interim relief to recruits who had filed petitions against the cancellation.
Until further orders, the cancellation of the two examinations will remain stayed. Candidates associated with the examinations who had already joined government service will also be allowed to resume work with immediate effect.
However, it is a setback for the Hemant Sore government, which announced the cancellation of 22 recruitment examinations and ordered probes into 23 others conducted since 2014 by the JPSC, Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC) and an outsourced agency, days ago.
Defending its move, the government had said the move was aimed at restoring public confidence in the recruitment process following allegations of irregularities.
The government was forced to take the decision due to agitation by the JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch that lasted for 26 days. The protestors called off the agitation after the government gave two-months time to address their demands and ensure a fair investigation into the alleged irregularities.
Three protesters who had been on an indefinite hunger strike for 15 days also ended their fast on Wednesday. Earlier, Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha leader Devendra Mahto ended his 16-day hunger strike on Monday, while Prem Nayak and Umme Habiba called off their fast the next day.
The Manch had threatned to resume the protests if the government fails to resolve the matter within two months.
However, the government’s decision to cancel the examinations triggered protests among candidates who had already been selected and appointed to government posts.
Around 2,700 candidates, including nearly 2,000 recruited through the JSSC Combined Graduate Level examination, demonstrated outside the state secretariat, demanding that the cancellation orders be withdrawn with some of them approaching the High Court, arguing that they should not lose their jobs over alleged irregularities in which they had no role.
