An eight-member student delegation is holding face-to-face discussions with a team appointed by the state government. The students have been protesting continuously since July 5, after alleged irregularities in the 14th Civil Services Preliminary Examination conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) came to light on July 2. Their indefinite agitation entered its 15th day on Saturday. Student leader Devendra Nath Mahato has also been on a hunger strike in support of the aspirants.
The student delegation presenting its memorandum and demands comprises Chandan Kumar, Deenbandhu Mandal, Ravi Shankar, Prem Kumar, Pooja Kumari, Ramavatar Mahato, Bimal Kumar and Amit Kumar Sharma.
Mahato, who has been leading the agitation at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium and has been on hunger strike for the past six days, told IANS that speaking at length had become difficult. “Thank everyone who is supporting this movement. The protest, which began on July 5, has continued till now. Our demand is that all examinations conducted by the TDPL agency be cancelled and an inquiry be conducted,” he said. He added that a delegation of eight students was holding talks with the government on Saturday after the previous day’s discussions.
Ramavatar Mahato said the meeting concerned the 14th JPSC examination and that the government should cancel it immediately, along with all examinations conducted by TDPL. Student leader Prem Nayak said the group had wanted talks under Mahato’s leadership with the Chief Minister on an open platform. “This time, we won’t rely on the government’s hollow promises,” he said, arguing that recruitment irregularities hurt poor students and could encourage further corruption.
Rapper Suraj Tylon, speaking in support of the protesters, said students were demanding cancellation of the JSSC examination and full transparency in the process, including how the cutoff was set.
The students have maintained that their agitation will continue until their demands are addressed and the government takes concrete steps on the alleged irregularities.
On Friday evening, the first formal round of talks was held at the State Guest House in Morabadi. The meeting lasted about one and a half hours and concluded at 9:25 p.m. Student representatives described the discussions as positive, but no final agreement was reached. They reiterated that they were seeking concrete action rather than assurances.
Four ministers—Chamara Linda, Sudibya Kumar Sonu, Deepika Pandey Singh and Sanjay Prasad Yadav—along with Development Commissioner Ajay Kumar Singh, represented the government in the first round, which involved a five-member official side and a 10-member student delegation.
Attention is now focused on whether the second round of talks can produce common ground on the demands that have kept JPSC-JSSC aspirants protesting for 15 days.
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