The row over Bihar’s 70th BPSC examination turned ugly in Patna on Tuesday as the protesters tried to enter JD Palace, the official residence of Chief Minister.
Organizers of the student protest in Bihar have called for a march to the chief minister’s office during ongoing demonstrations over alleged malpractice in the civil service exam.
The students charged that the examination conducting authorities have failed to take any action on their 15-point demands. They also protested against the alleged paper leak and irregularities in the examination process.
Chhatra Yuva Sangharsh Morcha, the student wing of the ruling Janata Dal (United) in Bihar, had called upon students, job aspirants, and youths from all parts of the state to participate in the rally as the protests have been ongoing for days in Gardanibagh, where most of the demonstration has been taking place.
The Bihar government has decided to constitute a five-member committee to recommend ways and means for making competitive examinations transparent and corruption-free. The committee will be headed by a retired judge and will suggest ways to ensure that such irregularities do not take place in the future.
The chief minister has also announced the opening of the Student Support Camp, which will be held every month on the fourth Tuesday in various education institutions. In addition, students will be able to track their complaint through the portal and the helpline 1100.
Meanwhile, the Bihar government has issued a notification regarding the post of BPSC TRE 4 recruitment, 2017. The issue of teacher appointments has been put on hold as the administration is looking into the complaint of irregularities in the recently held competitive exams. However, it is not clear how long these irregularities will persist.
Students have so far refused to withdraw their objection to the 70th Bihar Public Service Commission examination. Moreover, Tuesday’s events have created additional pressure on the Bihar government, which has to handle the student protests while also trying to quell the discontent among job aspirants.