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.

Supreme Court in its judgement says the committee constituted by the Centre also consider framing SOP for technological advancements to identify potential weaknesses in the cyber security of the examination system, processes for enhanced identity checks, CCTV monitoring of exam centres.

The apex court stated that in it’s judgement it has highlighted all the deficiencies in the structural processes of the NTAs.

“We cannot afford this for the betterment of the students”, says Supreme Court.

Supreme Court stated that the Central government and the National Testing Agency (NTA) must ensure that the problems encountered with the NEET UG 2024 exam are not repeated in the future.

The three-judge bench led by CJI DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra on July 23 ruled that there will be no retests for the NEET-UG examinations which were marred with serious allegations of widespread paper leak, aspirants find themselves in a state of uncertainty.

While pronouncing the detailed ruling, the CJI observed the need to utilise technological advancements for identifying potential weaknesses in the examination system’s cyber security.

CJI ordered the committee to submit its report to the Centre by September 30. The court asked the Education Ministry to report on the committee’s compliance and the decision to implement it within 2 weeks, as per Live Law.

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.