Three sitting members of the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) have resigned from their posts after being summoned by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for questioning in connection with alleged irregularities in a JPSC examination.

Ajita Bhattacharya, Jameel Ahmed and Anima Hansda submitted their resignations to Jharkhand Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar. Their resignations come amid growing protests by students over alleged problems in the examination process.

The three members had been appointed to the commission on September 2, 2021, after their appointments were approved by the state Cabinet in August that year.

JPSC Members Summoned by CID

CID officials had summoned the three sitting JPSC members for questioning over alleged irregularities linked to an examination conducted on April 19.

Investigators are expected to seek information from the members about decisions taken during the examination process and other developments connected with the alleged irregularities.

Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar accepted the resignations following a recommendation from the Jharkhand government.

Ajita Bhattacharya has also attracted political attention because she is the wife of a JMM spokesperson and general secretary who is considered close to Chief Minister Hemant Soren.

Jharkhand Government Agrees to Cancel JPSC Exam

The resignations came as the Jharkhand government agreed to cancel the examination amid an ongoing student protest.

Students have been demonstrating for 16 days, demanding action over alleged irregularities in the JPSC examination process. The state government has agreed to several demands raised by the protesters.

The government is also prepared to recommend investigations by the CID and Enforcement Directorate into alleged financial irregularities connected with backlog examinations.

However, a major disagreement remains over the demand for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe.

Students Continue to Demand CBI Investigation

Student leaders have rejected a compromise without a CBI investigation and have announced plans to march towards the Jharkhand Assembly.

Student representatives said they would march to the Assembly on August 10 and would not withdraw their protest until a CBI investigation is announced.

The state government, meanwhile, has said it is not prepared to cancel every examination in which Abhay Tiwari appeared. Tiwari has been named among those accused in connection with the alleged examination irregularities and is reported to have cleared 12 examinations over the past 13 years.

Government Promises Fast-Track Action

Jharkhand minister Sudivya Kumar said government officials had held a positive discussion with the protesting students and that the students would decide whether to withdraw their agitation.

He also said the state government would recommend an ED investigation into alleged financial irregularities in JPSC examinations.

According to the minister, a fast-track court would be established to deal with cases related to the alleged examination irregularities. The government has also said that a chargesheet would be filed within 90 days.

Read more: ED Raids 30+ Locations in Jharkhand, Traces ₹600 Crore Assets in Illegal Coal Case

What Happens Next in JPSC Case?

The resignation of three JPSC members and the proposed cancellation of the examination mark a significant development in the controversy.

The CID questioning is expected to focus on decisions taken during the examination and information available with the commission. At the same time, students continue to press for a CBI investigation, making the probe a key point of disagreement between the protesters and the state government.

The developments have put further focus on the functioning of the Jharkhand Public Service Commission and the need for transparency in competitive examinations conducted for government recruitment.