Supreme Court seeks responses on CBI probe into Jharkhand civil services exam

A three-judge bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, issued the notices on Monday while hearing the petition filed by activist Harisharan Devgan. The court sought responses from the Union of India, the Jharkhand government, the Jharkhand Public Service Commission and other relevant authorities.

The petition, filed through advocate Satyam Singh Rajput under Article 32 of the Constitution, seeks urgent judicial intervention citing serious concerns regarding the integrity, fairness, transparency and credibility of the examination process. Senior advocate Manan Kumar Mishra, representing the petitioner, argued for either a CBI inquiry or an investigation by a former judge of the Supreme Court to ensure an independent assessment of the alleged malpractices.

The plea emphasizes that the matter is being raised in the public interest, reflecting widespread concerns about the conduct of the preliminary examination. The court's decision to issue notices indicates it has found sufficient grounds to examine the allegations against the state examination body, which conducts recruitment for civil services positions in Jharkhand.

The Supreme Court's intervention comes amid growing scrutiny of examination irregularities across India's public recruitment processes. The court's response signals a willingness to ensure that competitive examinations maintain their credibility and that any alleged breaches are thoroughly investigated through independent mechanisms.