Student leader Devendra Nath Mahto joined a march to the Jharkhand Vidhan Sabha in an ambulance on Monday after a nine-day hunger strike [1].
The demonstration highlights growing frustration among government job aspirants over alleged systemic corruption in state recruitment exams. The outcome of these protests could force the state government to overhaul its examination processes.
Mahto and other students gathered at the state legislative assembly premises in Ranchi to protest alleged paper leaks in the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC) exams [2]. The protesters are demanding the cancellation of the affected exams, and a formal inquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) [4].
The march occurred amid heavy police deployment. Tensions escalated when police engaged with the crowd, leading to a lathi-charge. Jairam Mahato said the police action was a "cowardly act" [5].
Rahul Gandhi said the use of force against protesting students is wrong [6]. The political pressure has reached the highest levels of state government, with Chief Minister Hemant Soren addressing the unrest.
Soren said he will look into the protesters’ demands with utmost seriousness [7]. The students maintain that only a central agency investigation can ensure transparency, and fairness for the candidates involved in the recruitment row [4].
Mahto's decision to join the march in an ambulance underscored the physical toll of his nine-day fast [1]. The protest continues to draw aspirants from across the state who claim their careers have been jeopardized by the alleged leaks [3].
“"Will look into protesters’ demands with utmost seriousness," said CM Hemant Soren”
The protests reflect a broader crisis of confidence in state-run recruitment bodies in India. By demanding a CBI inquiry rather than a state-level probe, the students are signaling that they do not trust the local administration to investigate itself. The involvement of national political figures and the physical desperation of the hunger strike increase the likelihood that the government will be forced to implement structural reforms to the JPSC and JSSC to maintain public order.
