As protests over alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC) intensify, student leader Devendra Nath Mahto has emerged as the face of the movement after launching an indefinite hunger strike in Ranchi.
Drawing comparisons with climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, whose fast over the NEET paper leak brought national attention to students' concerns, Mahto's protest has become the focal point of the ongoing agitation by thousands of job aspirants in Jharkhand.
'Now or Never' for Thousands of Aspirants
Mahto began his indefinite fast on Sunday night at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium in Ranchi, saying weeks of demonstrations had failed to produce any concrete response from the authorities.
Calling the movement a "now or never" moment for thousands of aspirants, he said the protest was aimed at securing justice for candidates who allege serious irregularities in multiple recruitment examinations.
Students Demand Probe into Recruitment Exams
The agitation began after the results of the 14th JPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination were declared on July 5, with students alleging discrepancies in the examination process.
Since then, aspirants have staged continuous protests, including a day-and-night satyagraha from July 25 and an indefinite sit-in from July 29.
The protesters are demanding:
- A CBI and ED investigation into the alleged irregularities in the 14th JPSC Civil Services Examination, JSSC Combined Graduate Level (CGL) examination and other recruitment tests.
- Cancellation of the 14th JPSC Preliminary Examination until transparency and fairness are ensured.
- Accountability for alleged lapses in the recruitment process.
As his hunger strike entered its second day, Mahto posted on social media that although his health was deteriorating, his determination remained firm. "There is weakness in the body, but the resolve to deliver justice to students is stronger than ever." He also appealed to supporters to keep the movement peaceful and constitutional, saying the struggle was not for an individual but for the future of lakhs of young aspirants across Jharkhand.
Who is Devendra Nath Mahto?
Devendra Nath Mahto hails from a village in Ranchi district and completed his schooling in Bundu before pursuing higher education at Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee University.
He holds:
Postgraduate degrees in Sanskrit and Kurmali, Tribal & Regional Languages and a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) degree from Hazaribagh.
Mahto contested the 2024 Jharkhand Assembly elections from the Tamar constituency as an Independent candidate.
He has been associated with student movements since 2015, campaigning on issues including scholarship delays, paper leaks, recruitment policies, reservation and alleged examination irregularities. During the agitation over the alleged irregularities in the 6th JPSC examination, he also lost his mother.
The ongoing protest has also received backing from the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). Party founder Abhijeet Dipke said he had spoken with Mahto and other student leaders, extending support to the students' demands for a fair and transparent recruitment process.
With Mahto's hunger strike continuing and student protests showing no signs of slowing down, pressure is mounting on the Jharkhand government to respond to the demands for an independent investigation into the alleged recruitment examination irregularities.
