Hundreds of aspirants for the Bihar Police Sub-Inspector (SI) positions marched from Gandhi Maidan to the official residence of Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary on October 5 to voice their concerns. The protest was triggered by the abrupt cancellation of the SI Mains examination, which the candidates demand be revoked immediately. They also sought the announcement of dates for their upcoming physical tests.

For the past ten days, these candidates had maintained a peaceful sit-in at the Gardanibagh protest site, expressing frustration over what they perceived as a lack of responsiveness from the administration regarding their grievances. Their demands intensified after they confirmed earlier success in the Preliminary examinations conducted in January and the Mains examination on May 28, which was aimed at filling 1,799 Sub-Inspector positions.

The cancellation of the examination came mere days before the scheduled Physical Efficiency Test (PET), with authorities citing “unavoidable reasons” for the decision. Protesters expressed their commitment to the recruitment process, particularly highlighting their extensive preparation over several months.

Demands for Reinstatement and Clarity on Cancellation

During the march, Anand Mohan Singh, an aspirant from Jehanabad, emphasised that their key demands included the reinstatement of the cancelled Mains examination and a clear announcement of the physical test dates. He mentioned that about 10,000 candidates were seeking just a brief audience with the Chief Minister to present their case. The march was described as entirely peaceful, aimed solely at urging the CM to listen to their concerns.

The candidates raised significant questions regarding the decision-making process behind the exam cancellation. Some highlighted that the decision was taken while an ongoing investigation by the Economic Offences Unit (EOU) had not yet concluded. Gaurav Kumar, from Vaishali, pointed out inconsistencies between statements made by the recruiting commission and those from the investigating agency. He noted the confusion following the announcement of cancellation just before the commencement of the physical test.

Several protesters, including aspirant Guddu Kushwaha, expressed dissatisfaction over the lack of concrete explanations from senior officials they had approached, including the Home Secretary and the Commission Chairman. Candidates questioned how the examination could be cancelled without substantiated evidence or specific reasons provided to the public.

Emotional Toll on Aspirants

The ramifications of the cancellation on candidates’ emotional and physical well-being were underscored by Hema, a female aspirant, who articulated the absurdity of such a significant decision close to the test dates. She pointed out that typically, examinations are either cancelled upon immediate detection of malpractice or restricted to specific centres where issues arise.

Comments from various participants highlighted the frustration felt by those who had devoted significant time and effort to prepare for the recruitment cycle. The timing of the cancellation, occurring five months after the exam and merely days before the physical test, was viewed as starkly unjust by many in attendance during the protest.

In a related event in New Delhi, members of the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) also held protests demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. It was reported that several demonstrators were detained by the police during their demonstration.

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