Ranchi: In a significant development, the Jharkhand High Court has stayed the state government’s decision to cancel the 11th and 13th Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) examinations and the appointments made pursuant to them.
The order was passed while hearing petitions filed by newly appointed government officers who challenged the state government’s decision to cancel the examinations and subsequent appointments.
The Jharkhand government had earlier decided to cancel a number of recruitment examinations conducted by the JPSC and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC) following findings arising from investigations by the CID and Special Investigation Team (SIT) into alleged irregularities in various competitive examinations.
The government’s decision came after a prolonged 25-day student agitation over alleged irregularities in the recruitment process. The state government had also announced the formation of a committee to examine and recommend reforms in the examination systems of the JPSC and JSSC.
Several Recruitment Examinations Under Scrutiny
The examinations affected by the government’s decision reportedly included recruitment tests for several important government posts, including:
- Drug Inspectors
- Assistant Professors
- Deputy Collectors
- Dental Doctors
- Assistant Engineers
- Civil Judges
- Additional Public Prosecutors
- Forest Range Officers
- Government Polytechnic Lecturers
- Senior Scientific Officers
- Assistant Conservators of Forests
- Various administrative and technical posts
The controversy has raised serious concerns among candidates who had already completed the recruitment process and, in several cases, had joined government service after being selected.
Candidates Challenge Cancellation on Natural Justice Grounds
The petitioners before the High Court argued that the government could not cancel the examinations and appointments unilaterally without providing the affected candidates an opportunity to be heard.
Their principal contention was that if investigations revealed wrongdoing by particular candidates or individuals, appropriate action could be taken against those responsible after an individual inquiry. However, cancelling the entire recruitment process and terminating the appointments of all selected candidates without examining their individual involvement would cause serious prejudice to candidates who had secured their positions through the selection process.
The petitioners also relied upon the principles of natural justice, particularly the requirement that a person whose rights or employment are adversely affected by an administrative decision should ordinarily be given an opportunity to present their case.
High Court Intervention Brings Temporary Relief
The High Court’s decision to stay the government’s order provides significant interim relief to the newly appointed officers who had approached the court.
The matter will now be examined further by the court, including the legality of the government’s decision to cancel the examinations and appointments and whether the affected candidates were entitled to an opportunity of hearing before such drastic action was taken.
The case is being closely watched as the outcome could have wider implications for government recruitment examinations, administrative decision-making and the protection of candidates who have already been appointed after completing a selection process.
Connect Live News Network will continue to track further developments in the case.
