Archive · 6 Aug 2026
Jharkhand High Court: JPSC chairman vacancy must be filled soon
In Jharkhand, a group called the JPSC helps the government hire people for important jobs.
The leader of this group, called the chairman, resigned on July 21.
Since then, the group has had no leader, and its work has slowed down a lot.
The Jharkhand High Court, a very important court, said this problem cannot continue.
It said the chairman's job is a constitutional post, which means it is essential and must be filled.
Because there is no chairman, hiring for the forest department has been stuck.
The forest department badly needs rangers and forest officers to protect forests.
The court asked the state government to explain when a new chairman will be appointed.
The judges also want a report on the hiring process.
The next court meeting will be on August 20.
The Jharkhand High Court observed that the post of JPSC chairman, a constitutional position, cannot be left vacant for a long time.
The post has been vacant since L. Khiangte resigned as chairman on July 21.
A division bench of Chief Justice M S Sonak and Justice Rajesh Shankar made the observation while hearing a petition on vacant forest department posts.
The court directed the Advocate General to get instructions from the state government on the immediate appointment of the JPSC chairman and a likely timeline.
The court said recruitment for ranger and assistant conservator of forest posts was stalled and the commission's functioning was 'grossly affected'; the next hearing is on August 20.
- Who
- Jharkhand High Court division bench of Chief Justice M S Sonak and Justice Rajesh Shankar; the Jharkhand state government and Advocate General; the Jharkhand Public Service Commission.
- What
- The court observed that the JPSC chairman's constitutional post cannot remain vacant and directed steps toward its immediate appointment and a likely timeline.
- When
- The hearing was held on Thursday; the post has been vacant since July 21; the next hearing is on August 20.
- Where
- Jharkhand High Court, Jharkhand, India.
- Why
- The vacancy stalled forest department recruitment and 'grossly affected' the commission's functioning amid a severe manpower shortage in the forest department.
- Court
- Jharkhand High Court
- Bench
- Chief Justice M S Sonak and Justice Rajesh Shankar
- Vacant Post
- Chairman of the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC)
- Vacant Since
- July 21, after the resignation of L. Khiangte
- Affected Recruitment
- Ranger and assistant conservator of forest posts
- Case Reason
- Severe manpower shortage in the state forest department
- Next Hearing
- August 20