The Jharkhand High Court on Thursday pulled up the state government over the delay in filling the vacant posts of chairman and members of the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC), directing it to specify when the appointments would be completed.
A division bench observed that the JPSC is a constitutional body and the post of its chairman cannot be allowed to remain vacant for a prolonged period. The court asked the state government to provide a clear timeline for filling the vacancies and posted the matter for further hearing on September 10.
The issue came up during proceedings initiated by the High Court in connection with vacancies in the state Forest Department. The court had earlier taken note of the absence of a JPSC chairman as recruitment processes requiring the commission's involvement remained affected.
Chairman post vacant since July
The JPSC chairman's post has remained vacant since July 21 following the exit of former chairman L Khiangte amid a controversy over alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations conducted by the commission.
Khiangte, a former Jharkhand chief secretary, had been appointed JPSC chairman in February 2025 following his retirement from the state's top bureaucratic post.
The High Court had raised the vacancy issue earlier as well, observing on August 6 that the chairman's position was a constitutional post that could not be left vacant for long. It had directed the state to obtain instructions and spell out the timeframe for making a fresh appointment.
Thursday's hearing came against the backdrop of heightened scrutiny of recruitment examinations in Jharkhand following allegations of irregularities.
Recruitment row deepens
The functioning of the JPSC has faced further disruption after all three of its members resigned amid protests by aspirants over alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations.
The controversy has also triggered investigations into recruitment processes and prompted the state government to review the functioning of its recruitment bodies.
The government recently constituted a three-member high-level committee to recommend reforms in recruitment processes followed by the JPSC and the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC). The panel has been tasked with examining appointment procedures and suggesting measures to improve transparency and efficiency.
The High Court has separately intervened in disputes arising from the recruitment controversy, including staying the government's decision to cancel certain examinations while investigations into alleged irregularities continue.
With the JPSC's top positions remaining vacant, the court has now sought a definite response from the government on restoring the constitutional body's functioning.