Cancel with caution, livelihoods are at stake

Protests in Jharkhand against compromised public examinations have led the Hemant Soren government to negotiate, with most of their demands met. However, the blanket cancellation of appointments can be a slippery slope, potentially depriving those who competed in good faith of their livelihoods. Nearly 2,000 individuals who cleared the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission-Candidates Selection Exam (JSSC-CGL) in 2024 were left without jobs when the government canceled their appointments.

This decision came after the Jharkhand High Court ordered the maintenance of status quo amid allegations of a paper leak in December 2025. The government's actions have sparked renewed protests, with Vikas Kumar Sharma expressing frustration in front of Jharkhand Mantralaya. The government must ensure that those who got jobs through a process upheld by the court are not discriminated against, as the credibility of the testing system and due process are at stake.

The protesters' journey has been arduous, demanding accountability and reform, and this momentum must lead to meaningful reform, or it would be tragic.