RANCHI, JHARKHAND – After 16 days of an indefinite hunger strike, student leader Devendra Nath Mahato, along with others, has ended their protest following the Jharkhand government's decision to cancel all examinations conducted by the testing agency TDPL since 2014. The announcement by Chief Minister Hemant Soren came amidst mounting pressure from thousands of students who had been protesting alleged paper leaks and irregularities in various competitive exams, including the JSSC Combined Graduate Level (JSSC-CGL) examination.
Government Cancels All TDPL Exams
Chief Minister Hemant Soren confirmed the full cancellation, stating, “All examinations conducted by TDPL and the results published by it are now cancelled. Examinations and recruitment conducted through TDPL stand cancelled.” In a significant concession to student demands, the government also announced a Crime Investigation Department (CID) inquiry into all exams held through TDPL since 2014.
Jharkhand Minister Irfan Ansari affirmed that the government had accepted the students' core demands. Following the announcement, Mahato, along with fellow hunger strikers Umme Habiba and Rahul Kranti, received medical examinations and were discharged in normal health.
Student Leaders React to Decision
Speaking after breaking his fast, Devendra Nath Mahato described the government's move as both difficult and historic. He praised the administration for conducting what he called an “honest and impartial inquiry” to find a resolution. Mahato also called for new legislative measures to prevent future instances of fraud, urging the government to guarantee that no student is cheated or deceived again.
He acknowledged the efforts of Jharkhand Health Minister Irfan Ansari, Minister Dipika Pandey, and MLA Jairam Mahato for their “joint initiative” in resolving the crisis, and extended his thanks to Chief Minister Hemant Soren and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for their role in the decision.
CBI Probe Remains a Key Demand
Despite the significant victory of the TDPL exam cancellation, a faction of student leaders insists that the government's actions do not go far enough. The primary outstanding demand is for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the cancelled JSSC-CGL and TDPL examinations, rather than the CID inquiry ordered by the state government.
Student leader Piyush Kumar stated, “The cancellation is just the first step.” He added that other issues, including the “11th to 13th” matter, remain unresolved, emphasizing that “Our demands have not yet been fully met... The struggle will continue.”
Ravindra Paswan, while thanking the Chief Minister for a “historic and bold decision,” made it clear that student support hinges on further action. “If you order a CBI investigation, then all of us students are with you,” Paswan declared, indicating that students would review the official notification before deciding their next course of action.
Origins of the Protest
The agitation began on July 25 with a small gathering at Ranchi's Vapu Batika Ground. It quickly escalated into one of Jharkhand's largest student movements in recent years, drawing national attention due to widespread allegations of irregularities and paper leaks in various examinations conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and JSSC-CGL.
Activist Sonam Wangchuk, known for his educational reforms, congratulated Mahato and his team via video call, commending their “commitment, honesty and conviction,” and also appreciated Chief Minister Soren for addressing the students' demands.