Ranchi, Dec 16: Tensions flared up in Ranchi as students protesting against alleged irregularities in the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC) Combined Graduate Level (CGL) examination were dispersed by police near the JSSC office. The demonstration, organised by student groups including the Jharkhand Loktantrik Kranti Morcha (JLKM), wanted to gherao the JSSC office over claims of rigging in the CGL exam.

In anticipation of the protests, the state police had put in place tight security measures at key locations, including Raj Bhavan, the Chief Minister’s Residence, and the Secretariat.

Several barricades were set up in the area and a large number of police personnel were deployed around the JSSC premises as well, effectively turning it into a high-security zone.

Around 1.30 P.M. on Monday, a group of students assembled at Namkum Sadabahar Chowk in Ranchi and attempted to march toward the JSSC’s office. However, they were stopped by police, who resorted to lathi-charge to disperse the crowd. Student leader Devendra Nath Mahato and one associate were detained during the police action.

Despite the ongoing protests, the JSSC has gone ahead with the document verification process for candidates shortlisted in the CGL exam results. Starting Monday, the verification of certificates for 2,145 successful candidates is expected to conclude by December 20, after which the final list of selected candidates for various government positions will be released.

The CGL examination, held on September 21-22 across 823 centres in Jharkhand, was conducted to fill approximately 2,000 vacancies in state government departments.

Over 3.04 lakh candidates appeared for the test. However, allegations of paper leaks and the inclusion of repeated questions from previously cancelled exams sparked widespread outrage. Students have staged protests in multiple cities, including Ranchi and Hazaribagh, to demand justice.

On December 10, students in Hazaribagh blocked the highway for nearly four hours, prompting a police lathi-charge to clear the demonstration. The JSSC had earlier formed a committee to investigate the allegations, which later dismissed claims of irregularities.

Despite this, Chief Minister Hemant Soren recently announced that the allegations would now be probed by the CID.

Increase in suicide amongst students of higher education is “alarming” and it calls for immediate measure by all concerned, the Bombay High Court  observed on Tuesday. The court added that wellbeing of every student, including mental wellbeing is an integral part of every student in general.

The court was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) petition by child rights activist Shobha Panchmukh, 57, highlighting the increase in suicide amongst students. The plea seeks direction to the Mumbai University (MU) to issue a circular to all affiliated / associated colleges to have counsellors to address and deal with mental health of students. The PIL expressed concern about inadequate measures available so far as curbing suicidal tendencies among students of higher education are concerned.

Petitioner’s advocate pointed out that as per the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) number of suicides committed by students for 2019, 2020 and 2021 are 1487, 1648 and 1834 respectively. This shows an increasing trend.“Well being  of every student including mental wellbeing is Integral part of every student in general,” a bench of Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya and Justice Amit Borkar said.

The court noted that Sec 5(36) of the Maharashtra Universities Act casts a duty on the universities to make arrangements for promoting a healthy atmosphere and ensure welfare of students at college, university and  institutions. “Thus the University, in our opinion, is duty bound  to make measures to create an atmosphere in college and institutions  where instances of suicide do not take place,” the bench added.

Taking note of the increasing number of suicides as reflected in the NCRB data, the HC said, “Such a situation is not almost alarming but calls for immediate measures by all concerned.”

State advocate Jyoti Chavan informed the court that they were not treating the plea as adversarial but suggested that the Centre should be added as a respondent since it has special budget allocation for suicide prevention.

Chavan pointed out that University Grants Commission (UGC) should also be added as a respondent since several colleges are now becoming autonomous. “It is a larger issue and not just about the universities,” Chavan submitted.

The bench then asked the petitioner to add UGC as respondent to the PIL.

The high court has asked the Maharashtra government, University of Mumbai and Higher and Technical Education Department to file their affidavits in response to the plea in three weeks. Panchmukh has been asked to file additional affidavit in one week thereafter.

The Supreme Court of India has started hearing petitions regarding the controversy surrounding the NEET-UG 2024 medical entrance exam. The court has transferred cases related to the NEET-UG row from various high courts to the Supreme Court to avoid multiple litigations.

Meanwhile, a special court in Patna has sent the key accused in the NEET-UG paper-leak case to CBI custody for 14 days. The Supreme Court will hear over 40 petitions today related to NEET cancellation and against the National Testing Agency (NTA).

The outcome of the hearing will impact over 23 lakh medical aspirants seeking admission to MBBS and BDS courses in India. Allegations of a paper leak began circulating on social media before the exam, which the NTA initially denied. However, after an unusually high number of students scored top marks, suspicions of a paper leak grew.

Although the NTA issued a clarification on grace marks and toppers, many students demanded a re-exam. The Supreme Court has stated that a retest will be necessary if the paper was indeed leaked on social media. The Ministry of Education has urged IIT Madras to conduct a detailed report on the irregularities in the NEET results, which found no mass or localized malpractice in the exam.

The CBI has arrested a suspect, Pankaj Kumar, for allegedly stealing the NEET-UG paper from the NTA’s trunk in Hazaribagh. The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has opened the portal for medical colleges to submit details on available MBBS seats for NEET UG counselling 2024, which is scheduled to begin in the third week of July.