The standoff over alleged irregularities in Jharkhand’s recruitment examinations intensified on Monday (August 10), with job aspirants facing police action during their march towards the State Assembly even as the government came under growing political pressure over the issue.

Police used water cannons, lobbed tear gas shells and resorted to lathi-charge after protesters breached barricades while attempting to reach the Assembly. Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha leader Devendra Nath Mahto, who has been on a hunger strike for nine days over the examination controversy, also joined the march despite having lost 10.5 kg. He was seen carrying a portrait of former Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren.

The action came a day after the Jharkhand government agreed to cancel the 14th Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) preliminary examination and the JPSC backlog examinations conducted in 2023 and 2025 following nearly six hours of discussions with protesting student groups. However, the protesters continued their agitation, demanding a CBI probe into alleged irregularities in the JSSC-CGL examination.

The Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha (JLKM) and JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch have also demanded cancellation of the JSSC-CGL examination and all examinations associated with TSR Data Processing Private Limited Agency, which they described as a blacklisted entity.

The government's announcement came alongside the resignation of all three JPSC members. Chief Minister Hemant Soren assured the protesters that “justice will be delivered with full transparency”.

The continuing agitation triggered a political confrontation in the Assembly, with Jharkhand Minister Sudivya Kumar accusing the BJP of “hijacking” the students’ movement for political gains and misleading protesters.

Replying during Zero Hour to Nirsa MLA Arup Chatterjee, who sought details of the government’s discussions with the protesting students, the Higher and Technical Education Minister said the students had initially been conducting a peaceful and democratic agitation but alleged that the BJP had subsequently “hijacked” it.

“The government made every effort to resolve the students’ issues. The agitating students would have accepted the government’s proposal, but the BJP hijacked the protest and misled them into holding today’s agitation,” Kumar said, reported The Press Trust of India.

Kumar said the agitation originated from allegations of irregularities in the preliminary examination of the 14th JPSC recruitment process.

“The government ordered a CID probe after receiving indications of irregularities, following which the JPSC chairman resigned and 19 people were arrested,” he said reported PTI.

The issue also reached the national political arena. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said on Monday that the government was prepared to allow a detailed discussion in the Lok Sabha on student protests and police action across the country, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah responding to the debate, provided the Opposition agreed not to disrupt proceedings and listened peacefully.

Rijiju made the announcement after a meeting of the Lok Sabha Business Advisory Committee, which discussed the House’s agenda for the next three days. His statement came against the backdrop of the police action against Jharkhand job aspirants marching towards the Assembly, reported PTI.

BJP national spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi meanwhile accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and his party of adopting a “double standard” on student issues. He said the Jharkhand protesters were conducting their agitation in a disciplined manner and argued that the dispute went beyond alleged paper leaks to encompass the wider question of jobs and recruitment irregularities.

“They are struggling in a restrained manner. They are struggling in a disciplined manner. There is no abusive language, there is no foul language being used there. Nor are they being provided high-quality food ordered from unknown sources from places such as Swiggy and Zomato. Nor is there a picnic-like atmosphere there,” he said.

Trivedi also questioned Gandhi’s silence on the Ranchi protests and contrasted it with his earlier interventions in student movements elsewhere.

“Rahul Gandhi cannot hear the voice of the students of Ranchi. Those who used to roar and shout from Kota to Prayagraj are not even seen making a noise in Ranchi. This shows that their objective is not to speak for the interests of students but to fulfil their political interests,” Trivedi said, reported PTI.

Amid the confrontation, Jharkhand Minister Deepika Pandey Singh said the government recognised the democratic right to protest but maintained that any decision concerning examination cancellations had to remain within the constitutional and legal framework.

Addressing reporters, she said the administration had been instructed to maintain law and order without resorting to force.

“In a democracy, there is permission for protests; people are free to hold them. The administration is taking the necessary actions to maintain law and order. There will be no use of pellet guns, tear gas, or lathi-charge here,” she told reporters.
On allegations that the government had failed to communicate adequately with the protesters, she said discussions had continued for several days.

“It wasn’t a lack of communication; we held discussions for hours--talks have been ongoing for four days. We agreed to everything that was within the state government’s capacity to address,” she said.

However, she said the students’ principal demand for complete cancellation of the JSSC-CGL examination involved legal complications, news agency ANI reported.

With the government agreeing to cancel several JPSC examinations but protesters continuing to demand action on the JSSC-CGL examination, the recruitment controversy remains unresolved, with Monday’s Assembly march adding a fresh flashpoint to the ongoing agitation.