Supreme Court Issues Notice for CBI Probe into Jharkhand Civil Services Exam Irregularities

Demonstrators protesting in Ranchi against alleged exam leaks NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday issued a notice to the Centre and the state government over a plea seeking an independent, time-bound CBI probe into alleged malpractices in the Jharkhand Combined Civil Services Preliminary Examination. A bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant and comprising Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana sought responses from the respondents. Senior advocate Manan Kumar Mishra, appearing for petitioner Harisharan Devgan, said the plea sought either a CBI inquiry or an investigation by a former Supreme Court judge. The petition, filed under Article 32 of the Constitution, raised concerns over the “integrity, fairness, transparency and credibility” of the Jharkhand Combined Civil Services Preliminary Competitive Examination 2025, conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission on April 19, 2026, pursuant to Advertisement No. 01/2026.

Meanwhile, as nationwide protests continue, Ranchi Police registered three FIRs over clashes and disorder during a protest in the city on Friday, naming 14 people and booking more than 200 unidentified persons. All three cases were registered at the Kotwali police station. Police said protesters allegedly breached the route designated for the demonstration, prompting officers to use mild force. The protest was organised by the JPSC-JSSC Reform Forum after it called on students across Jharkhand to burn effigies of the chief minister in protest against a recent High Court decision. Jharkhand Leader of Opposition Babulal Marandi alleged that ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) workers were deployed during the student protest and assaulted demonstrators with sticks and batons.

“Regarding today's incident, I would say that JMM goons were deliberately deployed by the government. Because in a democracy, protests, sit-ins, demonstrations, and the burning of effigies are common occurrences,” Marandi said. He alleged that police were absent from the spot while JMM workers attacked protesters. “JMM goons were visible, armed with sticks and batons, and they even beat up young people,” he said. The protests are linked to a wider dispute over the Jharkhand civil services examination, with students and aspirants demanding action over alleged irregularities in the JPSC examination process. The Supreme Court has separately sought responses from the Centre, Jharkhand government and JPSC on a plea seeking an independent probe into alleged malpractices in the preliminary examination.