Jharkhand Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar on Sunday accepted the resignations of three members of the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) amid continuing protests by students and job aspirants over alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations. The three members — Dr Ajita Bhattacharya, Dr Anima Hansda and Dr Jamal Ahmed — had submitted their resignations amid mounting scrutiny of the commission. The Governor accepted the resignations following a recommendation from the state government.
The resignations mark another major development in the controversy surrounding the JPSC, which has faced sustained protests over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations and the selection of agencies entrusted with conducting them. Bhattacharya, Hansda and Ahmed were the three serving members of the commission. Their departure comes after former JPSC chairman L Khiangte had also stepped down amid the controversy.
The three members had reportedly been summoned by the Jharkhand CID, which is investigating alleged irregularities in JPSC recruitment examinations. Bhattacharya, Hansda and Ahmed were asked to appear before investigators on August 10, 12 and 14, respectively. The agency is examining decisions related to the conduct of examinations and the selection of outside agencies for examination-related work. The CID is also looking into the selection of Lucknow-based TSR Data Processing Private Limited, which conducted examinations for the JPSC despite having previously been blacklisted by the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission in May 2025 over alleged irregularities.
The investigation has so far resulted in the arrest of 19 people in connection with the alleged recruitment irregularities, according to reports. Those arrested include employees of the private agency, JPSC personnel, candidates allegedly involved in examination fraud and suspected middlemen. Former chairman Khiangte has also been questioned several times by the CID.
The developments come against the backdrop of an agitation by students and government job aspirants in Ranchi over alleged irregularities in JPSC and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission examinations.
The protesters have demanded cancellation of examinations they allege were compromised, a CBI investigation and broader reforms to ensure transparency in the state's recruitment system.
The state government has agreed to cancel the 14th JPSC examination along with some other examinations, but has rejected the demand to scrap the JSSC-CGL examination. Students have said their agitation will continue, particularly over their demand for a CBI probe.
Chief Minister Hemant Soren has said his government is committed to addressing the aspirants’ grievances through dialogue and ensuring transparency in recruitment examinations. The acceptance of the three JPSC members’ resignations adds to a series of developments surrounding the commission as the government faces mounting pressure to address allegations of irregularities and restore confidence among thousands of government job aspirants.