Archive · 21 Aug 2026
Jharkhand High Court Stays Cancellation of JSSC-CGL, CDPO Exams
The Jharkhand government cancelled several recruitment exams after allegations of problems in the exam system.
Some candidates who passed those exams asked the High Court to protect their jobs.
The court temporarily stopped the cancellation of the JSSC-CGL and CDPO exams and related appointments.
This is a temporary order, not a final decision about whether the cancellations were right.
The court wants the government to explain why it cancelled the exams and appointments.
The government must submit its response by September 7.
The candidates can reply by September 14.
Student protesters, who had demanded cancellations, saw the court’s decision as a setback.
The Jharkhand High Court stayed the state government’s cancellation of the JSSC-CGL and CDPO examinations and related appointments.
Justice Deepak Roshan heard petitions from candidates and employees who said blanket cancellations harmed people who had passed and, in some cases, joined government service.
The government’s cancellations followed a 25-day student protest and an investigation into alleged irregularities in competitive examinations.
The state cancelled 22 examinations, suspended six processes and placed 17 additional examinations under investigation, affecting 45 examinations in total.
The government must respond by September 7, while petitioners must file rejoinders by September 14; the next hearing was reported for September 15.
- Who
- The Jharkhand government, Jharkhand High Court, JSSC, JPSC, affected candidates and employees, and student protest groups.
- What
- The High Court issued interim stays against cancellation orders for the JSSC-CGL and CDPO examinations and related appointments.
- When
- The orders were issued on Friday, with one report specifying August 21, 2026; the government’s response is due September 7 and petitioners’ rejoinders are due September 14.
- Where
- The cases were heard in the Jharkhand High Court in Ranchi.
- Why
- Candidates challenged cancellations that affected people who had passed recruitment examinations, received appointments or begun government service; the cancellations followed alleged irregularities and student protests.
Affected Candidates and Employees
State Government and Student Protesters
Whether exams and appointments should be cancelled
Affected Candidates and Employees
Petitioners argued that blanket cancellations unfairly harmed candidates who had cleared the recruitment process and, in some cases, had already joined government service.
State Government and Student Protesters
The government cancelled examinations, results and selections after alleged irregularities were investigated. Student protesters had demanded the cancellation of JPSC and JSSC examinations, including the JSSC-CGL.
Meaning of the High Court’s stay
Affected Candidates and Employees
Candidates welcomed the interim relief, saying they had earned their positions on merit and hoped to return to government offices soon.
State Government and Student Protesters
The JPSC-JSSC Reform Manch described the stays as a setback and announced plans to burn Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s effigy in all 24 districts.
Scope of the recruitment response
Affected Candidates and Employees
Candidates sought protection for specific examinations and appointments, including JSSC-CGL, CDPO, JPSC Civil Services and Food Safety Officer recruitment.
State Government and Student Protesters
The government’s notifications addressed 45 examinations through cancellations, suspensions and investigations following the recruitment controversy.
- Judge
- Justice Deepak Roshan
- Examinations covered
- Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission Combined Graduate Level (JSSC-CGL) and Child Development Project Officer (CDPO) examinations
- JSSC-CGL selections
- One report said 1,932 candidates were selected and many had received appointments.
- Earlier interim relief
- The court had stayed cancellations involving the 11th–13th Jharkhand Public Service Commission Combined Civil Services examinations and Food Safety Officer recruitment.
- Government action
- Twenty-two examinations were cancelled, six processes were suspended and 17 additional examinations were placed under investigation.
- Total affected examinations
- The measures covered 45 examinations, according to the reports.
- Court deadlines
- The state must respond by September 7; petitioners must file rejoinders by September 14.
- Investigation
- The government linked its recruitment decisions to an ongoing Criminal Investigation Department probe into alleged irregularities in competitive examinations.
