Ajoy Kumar backs Jharkhand students' JPSC-JSSC demands, seeks HC-led probe
Synopsis
A 12-day student agitation in Ranchi over alleged JPSC and JSSC exam fraud has drawn in Congress leader Dr Ajoy Kumar, who is demanding a High Court-led probe committee, FIR registration, and cancellation of all tainted results. With a hunger strike under way and an Assembly gherao threat set for 6 August, pressure on the Hemant Soren government is mounting fast.
Key Takeaways
Former Jamshedpur MP Dr Ajoy Kumar (Congress) backed students protesting alleged JPSC and JSSC exam irregularities on 5 July .
Kumar demanded a probe committee headed by a sitting High Court judge , registration of an FIR , and cancellation of all tainted exam results.
The student agitation in Ranchi entered its 12th day , with student leader Devendra Nath Mahto on hunger strike for four days at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium .
Protesters have threatened to gherao the Jharkhand Assembly on 6 August if demands are not met.
Key demands include cancellation of the 14th JPSC Civil Services Preliminary Exam , a CBI and ED probe , and release of OMR sheets and cut-off marks.
Jharkhand CID conducted simultaneous raids across seven districts on Monday, seizing laptops, mobile phones, OMR copies, and bank documents.
Former Jamshedpur Member of Parliament and Indian National Congress leader Dr Ajoy Kumar has thrown his weight behind students protesting alleged irregularities, corruption, and paper leaks in recruitment examinations conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC). Kumar urged the Jharkhand state government to address the protesters' concerns and overhaul the examination system to make it transparent and time-bound.
Kumar's Demands on X
In a post on X, Kumar appealed directly to Chief Minister Hemant Soren and the Jharkhand government to treat students' grievances with sensitivity. “The future of Jharkhand’s youth hinges on the JPSC and JSSC examinations. A humble appeal to the government to consider the legitimate demands of students with sensitivity. Making the examination system transparent and time-bound is extremely essential for the country’s development,” Kumar said.
He further called for the constitution of a committee headed by a sitting High Court judge and the registration of an FIR into the matter. Kumar demanded that results of all examinations conducted so far be cancelled and that fresh exams be held under a transparent framework. Kumar previously served as Jharkhand Pradesh Congress Committee President and represented Jamshedpur in the Lok Sabha.
Protest Enters 12th Day in Ranchi
The students’ agitation in Ranchi entered its 12th consecutive day on Wednesday, with demonstrators gathered at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium. Student leader Devendra Nath Mahto has been on an indefinite hunger strike for four days. Protesters have warned they will gherao the Jharkhand Assembly on 6 August if their demands remain unaddressed.
Key Demands of Protesting Students
The students’ core demands include the cancellation of the 14th JPSC Combined Civil Services Preliminary Examination, a CBI and Enforcement Directorate (ED) probe into alleged irregularities across JPSC and JSSC-CGL exams, and the public release of OMR sheets, main examination answer scripts, and category-wise cut-off marks. They are also demanding the blacklisting of examination agencies accused of malpractice and comprehensive structural reforms in recruitment bodies to prevent future irregularities.
CID Raids Across Seven Districts
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of Jharkhand, which is probing alleged irregularities in the 14th JPSC examination, conducted simultaneous raids on Monday across multiple locations in Ranchi, Dhanbad, Bokaro, Deoghar, Godda, Ramgarh, and Hazaribagh districts. Officials seized laptops, mobile phones, bank documents, carbon copies of candidates’ OMR sheets, and admit cards. The seized material is currently undergoing forensic and technical analysis.
Protesters have maintained that repeated incidents of examination malpractice are damaging the prospects of deserving candidates and eroding public trust in Jharkhand’s recruitment system. The agitation is unlikely to subside until concrete, verifiable steps are taken by the state government.
Point of View
Yet the protest is now attracting opposition-aligned amplification. The CID raids signal that the state machinery is moving, but the speed and scope of that response will determine whether the agitation escalates toward the threatened Assembly gherao on 6 August. Exam paper-leak scandals have become a national pattern — from NEET to state PSCs — and Jharkhand’s handling of this episode will be watched as a test of whether state governments can self-correct without central intervention.
NationPress
5 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are students protesting against JPSC and JSSC in Jharkhand?
Students are protesting alleged irregularities, corruption, and paper leaks in recruitment examinations conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC). They argue that repeated malpractice is denying deserving candidates fair opportunities and has eroded trust in the state’s recruitment system.
What has Dr Ajoy Kumar demanded from the Jharkhand government?
Dr Ajoy Kumar has demanded the constitution of a probe committee headed by a sitting High Court judge, registration of an FIR, cancellation of results of all examinations conducted so far, and fresh exams conducted in a transparent manner.
What are the students’ key demands?
The students are demanding cancellation of the 14th JPSC Combined Civil Services Preliminary Examination, a CBI and ED probe into exam irregularities, release of OMR sheets and category-wise cut-off marks, blacklisting of accused examination agencies, and comprehensive reforms in recruitment bodies.
What action has the Jharkhand CID taken so far?
The Jharkhand Criminal Investigation Department (CID) conducted simultaneous raids on Monday across seven districts — Ranchi, Dhanbad, Bokaro, Deoghar, Godda, Ramgarh, and Hazaribagh. Officials seized laptops, mobile phones, bank documents, OMR sheet copies, and admit cards, all of which are being subjected to forensic and technical analysis.
What happens next if the government does not act?
Protesting students have warned they will gherao the Jharkhand Assembly on 6 August if their demands are not addressed. Student leader Devendra Nath Mahto has been on an indefinite hunger strike for four days, and the agitation is now in its 12th consecutive day.
