Jharkhand Exam Row: Devendra Mahato Accuses Govt of Weak Defence in High Court

Jharkhand student leader Devendra Nath Mahato accuses the state government of weakly defending exam cancellation cases in the High Court as recruitment protests continue.

Jharkhand student leader Devendra Nath Mahato has accused the state government of failing to strongly defend its decisions on the cancellation of several recruitment examinations and appointments before the Jharkhand High Court.

Mahato, a leader associated with the JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch, made the allegation on August 21 amid continuing protests over alleged irregularities in the state’s recruitment examination system. He questioned why the government’s Advocate General did not appear on the first day of the hearing and why the state did not effectively present its CID investigation before the court.

High Court Stay on Exam Cancellation

The controversy intensified after the Jharkhand High Court stayed the government’s notifications cancelling appointments linked to several recruitment examinations.

The court has stayed the cancellation of appointments arising from the 11th and 13th JPSC examinations and Food Safety Officer recruitment. It subsequently also stayed the cancellation of appointments related to the JSSC-CGL and CDPO recruitments, providing interim relief to affected candidates.

The court has asked the state government to file its response, with the next hearing in the relevant matters scheduled for September 15, 2026.

Mahato Announces Recruitment Reform Yatra

Reacting to the developments, Mahato announced that the student organisation would launch a ‘Bharti Vyavastha Sudhar Yatra’ (Recruitment System Reform Yatra) from August 24.

The yatra will begin from Nemra, the birthplace of Shibu Soren, and will focus on reforms in the state’s recruitment system. Mahato has warned that if the government does not effectively defend its position before the High Court on September 15, the protesters could consider a gherao of the Chief Minister’s residence.

Recruitment Crisis Continues

The latest legal developments follow a prolonged student agitation over alleged irregularities in Jharkhand’s government recruitment examinations. The state government recently announced the cancellation of 22 recruitment examinations and ordered investigations into several others. The decisions came after a 26-day student protest led by recruitment reform activists.

The cancellation, however, has created a fresh problem: candidates who had already cleared some of the affected examinations and secured appointments are now uncertain about their jobs. The High Court’s interim orders have temporarily protected several groups of such candidates while the legal proceedings continue.

Students Seek Transparent Recruitment System

Mahato and other student leaders have maintained that their movement is not only about individual examinations but also about creating a transparent and reliable recruitment system in Jharkhand.

Earlier, Mahato had welcomed the government’s decision to cancel the JSSC-CGL examination and other tests linked to TDPL, describing it as a major victory for students. He has since shifted emphasis towards long-term reforms to prevent examination irregularities and alleged paper leaks.

With multiple cases now before the High Court, the dispute has entered a crucial legal phase. The government’s defence, the court’s eventual decisions and the outcome of the proposed student campaign will determine the next course of Jharkhand’s recruitment process.