Ranchi: In a setback to students and candidates who erupted in celebration on Tuesday night after 24 days of protest, the Jharkhand High Court on Thursday stayed, until further orders, the state government’s decision to cancel appointments made through the 11th to 13th JPSC Civil Services examination and the Food Safety Officer recruitment.
Justice Deepak Roshan, who passed the order after hearing three petitions challenging the government’s Tuesday notification cancelling the exams and appointments, directed the state to file its response within 15 days along with a counter-affidavit.
The court directed that the selected candidates be allowed to resume work with immediate effect, observing that they cannot be removed without following due process and principles of natural justice.
According to the petitioners, 342 candidates selected through the 11th to 13th JPSC examination are currently in service.
The Hemant Soren-headed government had cancelled the examinations and appointments based on findings emerging from the CID investigation into alleged irregularities and the role of TSR Data Processing Private Limited (TDPL) in the exam process.
The government notification had cancelled 22 exams, putting six examination processes on hold and bringing 17 examinations under investigation.
While the agitation led by the JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch rejoiced over the government decision after several rounds of talks failed to yield a solution, around 2,000 candidates who had cleared the tests gave vent to their anger and dissatisfaction.
Several successful candidates approached the Jharkhand High Court, challenging the government’s decision and seeking protection from potential job losses.
Some of the candidates entered the Jharkhand Secretariat premises on Wednesday despite prohibitory orders and police warnings.
“We cleared the examination based on our merit. We have no involvement with any irregularities. The government has no right to punish us,” said Shyam Sundar Mandal, an assistant section officer.
They will now be relieved by the high court’s order, while the protesters – including those who had been on an indefinite hunger strike for 15 days – will be hardly pleased.
