Student protests in Jharkhand have been suspended after the state government cancelled examinations conducted through testing agency TDPL, but a key demand for a CBI probe remains unresolved. The development came after student leader Devendra Mahto ended his 16-day indefinite hunger strike in Ranchi on Monday evening.
Other student protesters also followed suit after the government announced that all examinations conducted through TDPL since 2014 and the results published by the agency would be cancelled. However, some student leaders have made it clear that their broader agitation could continue if the government does not agree to an independent CBI investigation into the alleged irregularities.
Students End Hunger Strike After Government Move
Devendra Mahto said the decision to cancel the examinations addressed the immediate concerns of protesting students. He thanked the students, parents, media, police, state government and Chief Minister Hemant Soren for taking their concerns seriously.
Mahto also called for a new law to protect students from examination fraud and irregularities.
He said such legislation should guarantee that students are not cheated or deceived during recruitment and competitive examinations. While ending his fast, Mahto stressed that the struggle for wider reforms would continue.
He credited Jharkhand ministers Irfan Ansari and Dipika Pandey, along with MLA Jairam Mahato, for helping facilitate a resolution to the dispute.
CBI Probe Remains a Major Demand
Despite the government’s announcement, several student leaders said their demands had not been completely fulfilled.
Piyush Kumar described the government decision as only a “first step” and said the students’ movement would continue over unresolved issues.
Another student leader, Ravindra Paswan, welcomed the cancellation of the examinations but urged the state government to order a CBI investigation. He said students would support the government if it agreed to such a probe.
The difference between the government’s position and the protesters’ demand is significant. While the government has ordered a CID investigation, student leaders have been insisting on a CBI probe into the alleged examination irregularities and paper leaks.
Government Cancels TDPL Exams
Chief Minister Hemant Soren announced that all examinations conducted through TDPL and their published results would be cancelled.
He also announced that examinations conducted through the agency since 2014 would be investigated by the state Crime Investigation Department.
The decision followed weeks of student protests in Ranchi over alleged irregularities involving the JSSC-CGL examination and other recruitment tests.
The government described the decision as a significant step in addressing concerns raised by students.
Protest Grew Into Major Movement
The agitation began on July 25, when a relatively small group of students gathered in Ranchi over alleged irregularities and paper leak concerns involving recruitment examinations.
The protest subsequently expanded, with Devendra Mahto launching an indefinite hunger strike. Student leaders Umme Habiba and Rahul Kranti also joined the hunger strike.
Following the government’s announcement, students at the protest site celebrated the decision. Some protesters raised slogans, congratulated one another and were visibly emotional.
The student leaders later ended their fast after the government announced the examination cancellations.
Sonam Wangchuk Praises Protesters
Activist Sonam Wangchuk also praised the students following the government’s decision. During a video call, he congratulated Devendra Mahto and his team for their commitment to students’ rights.
Wangchuk also appreciated Chief Minister Hemant Soren for accepting the students’ demands and taking action on the examination issue.
For now, the hunger strike has ended and the immediate protest has been suspended. But the dispute is not completely over. Students are still waiting to see whether the government will consider their demand for a CBI investigation.
The next phase of the movement could therefore depend on how the state government handles the pending probe and the promised reforms to Jharkhand’s competitive examination system.
