The Supreme Court has issued a notice to the Centre and the Jharkhand government regarding a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that demands a CBI investigation into alleged irregularities in the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) Civil Services Preliminary Examination for 2026. This notice, issued on August 24, 2026, follows a plea filed by social worker Harisharan Devgan.

A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana is requiring the state governments to respond to the allegations outlined in the PIL. Senior advocate Manan Kumar Mishra, representing Devgan, asserted during the hearing that there have been ongoing protests from students concerning the examination irregularities.

During the proceedings, the Chief Justice requested clarification about the examinations referenced in the plea. Mishra confirmed that the focus of the petition was specifically on the JPSC examination, while also mentioning issues related to the Staff Selection examination.

Allegations of Irregularities and Required Investigations

Mishra urged the Court to mandate either a CBI investigation or an inquiry by a retired Supreme Court judge. However, the Chief Justice opined that the nature of the allegations necessitated an in-depth investigation rather than simply a judicial inquiry. He highlighted the potential requirements for forensic examination and emphasised that these tasks are best suited to investigative agencies.

The PIL requests not only a CBI investigation but also the establishment of an independent committee led by a retired Supreme Court judge or a former Chief Justice or Judge from another High Court. This committee should include specialists in various fields, including forensic science and cybersecurity, to address the urgent need for transparency and integrity in the examination process.

The petitioner contends that the JPSC examination, held on April 19, 2026, was marred by serious irregularities, particularly highlighted by the controversial results announced on July 2, 2026. Claims arise from the viral circulation of an answer sheet of a candidate who reportedly qualified by answering only 48 out of 100 questions in the first paper.

Request for Safeguards and Record Preservation

The plea further outlines a demand for independent audits concerning the OMR scanning, coding, evaluation, and results generation processes. Additionally, it seeks to categorise candidates potentially affected by the alleged irregularities into “tainted” and “untainted” groups.

Alongside the investigation request, the petitioner is calling for specific directions to be issued to the JPSC and relevant authorities to ensure the preservation of all examination records. This includes original OMR sheets, attendance registers, and CCTV footage, among other essential documents related to the examination.

The petitioner has also asked the Supreme Court to order a new preliminary examination, ensuring safeguards that would be deemed appropriate by the Court. This comes amid heightened scrutiny of the examination process and the government’s integrity in handling recruitment examinations in Jharkhand.

Recent Developments Following Public Outcry

The Jharkhand High Court recently intervened on August 20, 2023, by staying a state government order that annulled the appointment of employees recruited through JPSC examinations 11 to 13, amidst a backdrop of public protests regarding the alleged irregularities. On August 18, the government had issued a notification cancelling 22 recruitment examinations, including those between the 11th and 13th JPSC examinations, prompting various legal challenges from affected individuals.

The Supreme Court’s decision to seek responses from the concerned parties marks a significant step in addressing the serious allegations directed at the JPSC and the need for thorough investigations to uphold the integrity of civil service recruitment. The outcome of this case may resonate beyond Jharkhand, influencing public confidence in examination processes across India.

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