RANCHI, JHARKHAND: The Jharkhand government is set to hold another round of discussions with students protesting alleged irregularities in competitive examinations, as authorities make a fresh attempt to resolve the ongoing deadlock.
A senior member of the government-appointed dialogue panel said the sixth round of talks with representatives of protesting students will be held at around 12 p.m. on Sunday. The decision was taken after the panel held a nearly four-hour meeting with Chief Minister Hemant Soren to brief him on the progress made during earlier discussions.
Sixth Round of Talks Planned
The government panel has already conducted five rounds of discussions with representatives of various student organizations. However, the talks have so far failed to produce a final agreement, with protesting job aspirants insisting that their key demands be addressed before they call off the agitation.
Rural Development Minister Dipika Pandey Singh, who is a member of the dialogue panel, said the chief minister was informed about the views and demands raised by students during the previous rounds of negotiations.
“We apprised the chief minister of students’ views and demands that came to the fore during various rounds of meetings with delegations of student unions,” she said.
She added that it was decided during the meeting that a final round of talks with the protesting students would take place at 12 p.m. on Sunday.
Government Panel Reviews Students’ Demands
Another member of the panel, Minister Sanjay Prasad Yadav, said the meeting at the chief minister’s residence focused on the demands raised by the protesters, particularly those concerning reforms in the state’s recruitment system.
Students have been demanding comprehensive reforms in the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC).
The two recruiting bodies conduct examinations for a large number of government jobs in Jharkhand, making concerns over examination procedures and alleged irregularities a major issue among job aspirants.
Independent Probe Is a Major Demand
One of the central demands of the protesting students is an independent investigation into the alleged examination irregularities.
The protesters have called for an inquiry either by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or by a committee consisting of retired High Court judges from outside Jharkhand.
Students argue that an independent investigation is necessary to ensure transparency and establish accountability in cases involving alleged irregularities.
Protests Continue Despite Multiple Rounds of Talks
The Jharkhand government has engaged with several protesting student organizations in an effort to resolve the dispute.
According to the government, four rounds of talks with different groups of agitators had taken place since Friday night, followed by additional discussions. However, the negotiations have not yet resulted in a breakthrough.
The protesting job aspirants have maintained that their agitation will continue until all of their demands are addressed.
The latest decision to hold another round of talks indicates that the government is seeking to find common ground with the students before taking a final position on the demands.
Recruitment Reforms at the Center of Dispute
The controversy has put the functioning of JPSC and JSSC under increased scrutiny, with students demanding stronger safeguards to ensure fair, transparent and error-free recruitment examinations.
The outcome of Sunday’s discussions could determine whether the ongoing student agitation is brought to an end or continues.
With both sides preparing for another round of negotiations, attention is now focused on whether the sixth round of talks can produce a mutually acceptable solution and address the concerns of thousands of government-job aspirants across Jharkhand.
