Ranchi, August 26: Babulal Marandi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Jharkhand Assembly, has raised serious concerns regarding the integrity of the Exam Reform Committee. In a letter addressed to Chief Minister Hemant Soren, Marandi demanded the immediate removal of Prashant Kumar, the state’s Finance Secretary and in-charge of the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC), from the committee. He called for an independent investigation into Kumar’s role, citing conflicts of interest.
According to Marandi, it is inappropriate to assign the responsibility of improving the examination system to an official whose tenure saw significant controversies surrounding the JSSC CGL exam. The letter highlights that the government formed the Exam Reform Committee in response to irregularities in Jharkhand’s recruitment examinations. However, including Prashant Kumar, who has held the position of JSSC Chairman since February 2024, is seen as unfortunate and objectionable.
Marandi pointed out that the controversial JSSC CGL exam took place during Kumar’s tenure, leading to its cancellation, raids at the JSSC office, and questioning of the commission’s secretary. These events have raised serious doubts about the credibility of the entire examination system.
He emphasized that it is not appropriate to assign the responsibility of reforming the system to an official whose actions require independent and impartial investigation. Marandi also questioned Kumar’s administrative conduct, claiming that the department failed to provide clear answers regarding discrepancies amounting to thousands of crores in state accounts.
Additionally, he referenced a case involving the Water Resources Department, where the Jharkhand High Court imposed fines for misleading the court and failing to comply with orders. Marandi stated that including Prashant Kumar in the Exam Reform Committee raises questions about the government’s intentions. He insisted that officials whose roles may be subject to investigation should not be part of the reform committee.
Marandi called for an investigation into Kumar’s involvement in the selection process, question paper security, exam administration, result processing, and all administrative approvals related to the examination. He suggested that the committee should include impartial judicial, technical, and educational experts, along with student representatives.
Furthermore, he demanded that the alleged irregularities in the JPSC and JSSC recruitment examinations be investigated by the CBI to restore students’ trust. Marandi concluded that the Exam Reform Committee was established to purify the system and ensure transparency in the recruitment process, not to protect officials with questionable roles.
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