Ranchi: Jharkhand student leader Devendra Nath Mahato ended his hunger strike late on Monday after the state government announced the cancellation of several government recruitment examinations and ordered a criminal probe into irregularities, officials said.
Fast called off after meetings with leaders
Mahato, who was admitted to Sadar Hospital in Ranchi during his protest, called off the fast following meetings with ministers and legislators who visited him at the hospital, according to reports. He thanked the government for taking action and said the probe would focus on those involved in examination irregularities.
"They are making a concerted effort to reach the true kingpins behind these gangs," Mahato was quoted as saying by ANI. "We will cooperate with the government in this endeavour."
Mahato added that students would continue to support efforts to eradicate corruption from the examination system and sought safeguards to prevent future paper leaks and other irregularities. He expressed scepticism about past investigations being discontinued and urged a system that guarantees integrity.
State action: cancellations and CID probe
Chief Minister Hemant Soren announced late on Monday that all examinations and recruitments conducted by the outsourced agency involved in the controversy would stand cancelled. He specifically mentioned the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC) CGL examinations.
The government said the CID will probe all exams held in Jharkhand since 2014, and that any mistakes, "big or small", dating back to that year would be investigated, the chief minister added. The cancellations and the decision to order a CID probe follow weeks of student protests in Ranchi that centred on alleged paper leaks, irregularities and opaque selection lists.
What students demanded and government response
Students, organised under platforms including the JPSC-JSSC Abhyarthi Nyay Manch and the JPSC-JSSC Reform Manch, have been on the streets for more than three weeks demanding cancellation of disputed results, reconstitution of recruitment bodies and a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Protesters have raised questions on category-wise cut-offs, anomalies in merit lists and alleged circulation of answer sheets or OMR pages.
While the state government has ordered CID raids, accepted resignations and constituted a cabinet committee to look into the matter, agitating students have insisted on a CBI probe. The chief minister’s move to cancel exams conducted by the implicated agency and to direct the CID to investigate is intended to address public anger, but some students have indicated they will continue to press for a central investigation.
Immediate implications and unresolved questions
The cancellations affect a large pool of aspirants. The JPSC’s 14th Combined Civil Services preliminary examination had shortlisted 2,204 candidates from about 3.5 lakh aspirants for 103 posts, a point that had intensified the protest after anomalies in the result were highlighted. Authorities have not yet clarified the administrative steps for candidates who had been declared successful in the cancelled examinations.
| Action | Details |
|---|---|
| Exams cancelled | All exams and recruitments conducted by the implicated outsourced agency, including JPSC and JSSC CGL |
| Probe ordered | CID to investigate exams held in Jharkhand since 2014 |
| Student response | Fast called off by Mahato; wider protests may continue pending demand for CBI probe |
- Candidates affected: Thousands of aspirants across Jharkhand who appeared in the cancelled exams.
- Key agencies: JPSC, JSSC, CID; students continue to seek CBI involvement.
- Next steps: Administrative orders on re-examinations or replacement processes yet to be announced.
Observers say the decision to cancel exams and expand the probe may ease immediate tensions, but it also raises practical challenges: scheduling fresh examinations, resolving the status of candidates who cleared the disputed tests and ensuring transparency in future recruitments. Past cases in the State — some examined by the CBI — remain pending, which has fuelled demands for an independent, robust inquiry mechanism.
State officials have not yet provided a timeline for the CID investigations or for any re-examination schedule. Parties on both sides have indicated willingness to engage, but students' insistence on a CBI probe means negotiations are likely to continue.
Mahato’s decision to end the hunger strike marks a temporary de-escalation, but the broader reform of Jharkhand’s examination and recruitment process remains an open and politically sensitive issue.
