Jharkhand Students to Protest Exam Results, Vow to Halt Docs Verification

Ranchi – Students in Jharkhand are planning to gherao the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC) office in Ranchi on Monday, December 16, demanding the cancellation of the Jharkhand Combined Graduate Level (CGL) examination results. The protest is expected to draw thousands of students from across the state, prompting the police to heighten security measures in Ranchi.

The students allege that the September 21–22 exam, which aimed to fill approximately 2,000 government posts, was marred by a paper leak and repeat questions from previously canceled exams. The exam, which was conducted across 823 centers in the state, saw over 3.04 lakh candidates appear. Protests have been erupting since shortly after the exam, with students taking to the streets in Ranchi and Hazaribagh. On December 10, protesters in Hazaribagh blocked a highway for nearly four hours, resulting in a police lathicharge.

Adding to the controversy, a committee formed by the JSSC to investigate the allegations initially found no irregularities. Two days ago, Chief Minister Hemant Soren announced a CID investigation into the matter, signaling ongoing scrutiny of the exam process.

In anticipation of the protests, the police have set up barricades and deployed a large number of personnel around the JSSC office, as well as key locations like Raj Bhavan, the Chief Minister’s residence, and the Secretariat. According to reports, vehicles carrying students to Ranchi have been stopped en route. The security deployment includes 1,500 state police personnel, three RAF companies, five Deputy Superintendents of Police, and eight inspectors.

The JSSC has summoned 2,231 shortlisted candidates for certificate verification at their office between December 16 and December 20. However, Devendra Nath Mahato, leader of the Jharkhand Loktantrik Kranti Morcha (JLKM), has declared the group's intent to halt the document verification process. The JLKM announced in a press statement that students from all 24 districts are already in Ranchi and will begin the gherao at 9 a.m. on Monday. Many students are reportedly staying overnight in lodges, hostels, and relatives' homes in the city.