Jharkhand High Court orders JPSC appointments within two months

The Jharkhand High Court has ordered the state government to appoint a new chairman and members for the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) within a two-month deadline. A division bench consisting of Chief Justice M S Sonak and Justice Rajesh Shankar issued the directive during a hearing regarding a shortage of personnel in the state's Forest Department.

The court noted that the absence of leadership in the JPSC, a constitutional body, has hindered the recruitment of officers and employees across various government departments. The Advocate General informed the court that the appointment process for the chairman is expected to be completed soon, and the court has requested a compliance report by November 18, with the next hearing scheduled for November 19.

The vacancies follow significant instability within the commission. Former JPSC chairman L Khiangte was arrested in August, and all three commission members resigned following student protests over alleged irregularities in recruitment tests. These vacancies have already impacted state services, including the cancellation of recruitment examinations for Assistant Conservator of Forest and Range Forest Officer positions.