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Jharkhand assembly: Proceedings disrupted on second day over JPSC row
The second day of the winter session of the Jharkhand Assembly could function for less than an hour as BJP legislators disrupted proceedings demanding a CBI inquiry into the ongoing civil services exams and dismissal of the JPSC chairman in connection with a series of alleged irregularities in the preliminary examination and declaration of result.
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The second day of the winter session of the Jharkhand Assembly could function for less than an hour on Friday as BJP legislators disrupted proceedings demanding a CBI inquiry into the ongoing civil services exams and dismissal of the JPSC chairman in connection with a series of alleged irregularities in the preliminary examination and declaration of result.
The Speaker adjourned the House for the day around 12.40pm as the BJP legislators refused to budge despite one of their colleagues being marshalled out that had led to a brief adjournment earlier. Besides its ally AJSU Party, the BJP also got support from CPI (ML) legislator Binod Singh and independent legislator Amit Yadav who too entered the well with banners demanding action.
The legislators disrupted proceedings as the Speaker turned down the adjournment motion brought by BJP, Ajsu Party and CPI (ML) legislators over the issue.
Speaking to reporters after the house was adjourned, BJP legislature party leader Babulal Marandi hit out at the government and also questioned the Speaker’s action.
“There has been a series of allegations related to this exam, which is now in the public domain. The JPSC aspirants have themselves been highlighting loopholes in the examination. After denying any wrongdoing, the commission itself declared 49 applicants failed after declaring them pass because their OMR sheet was missing. High-level corruption in this examination is visible and so we are demanding CBI inquiry and dismissal of the chairman,” said Marandi.
The BJP leader also hit out at the Speaker for the marshalling of his colleagues for raising slogans in the Well. “What is the option for the opposition than to raise an issue related to the public in House if the government was not listening to their demands. Legislators of other parties and legislators also demanded discussion over the issue. But even the Speaker refused to address the issue of people. It shows the intention of the Speaker,” he added.
The JPSC has been facing a series of charges ever since it declared the result of the preliminary test (PT) last month. It started with allegations that applicants at two centres, in Latehar and Sahebganj districts, cleared the examination who took the exam in a series sitting in the same room.
The applicants also raised the issue of the JPSC declaring results without announcing the cut off marks under separate categories. The commission announced the cut-off marks earlier. There have been allegations that many students who got less than the cut off marks have made it to the list and vice versa. The JPSC earlier this month itself cancelled the result of 49 students who were shown to have cleared PT in the first announcement.
CPI (ML) legislator Binod Singh, said the government ought to reply when so many things are tumbling out. “No authority is explaining the lacunae outside and now when the assembly is in session, it’s the responsibility of the government to clarify things on the floor of the House. The government had announced this year to year of new appointments. In reality, it became a year of taking away the job,” said Singh.
While the government has been defending the JPSC in the row, the pressure seems to be mounted on it as members from the treasury benches have also started raising questions over the issue.
“I don’t find any problem if a detailed inquiry is conducted if there was no wrongdoing in the examination process. There has been a history of such allegations against the JPSC. So it’s the responsibility of the government to establish the faith of state’s youth over this constitutional body,” said Bandhu Tirkey, legislator and working president of the Congress, the second largest constituent in the government.
While the government refused to speak over the issue in the assembly, education minister Jagarnath Mahto defended the JPSC outside the House. “The opposition should raise their concern as per the parliamentary proceedings. As far as irregularity allegations are concerned, the JPSC itself conducted a probe and called the result of some students,” Mahto told reporters
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