The Jharkhand High Court has taken serious note of the vacancy in the post of chairman of the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC), questioning the state government over keeping such an important constitutional position vacant.
PSC Chairman L Khiangte resigned from his post on July 21 amid a CID probe into alleged irregularities in the 14th JPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice M.S. Sonak and Justice Rajesh Shankar directed the advocate general to obtain instructions from the state government and file an affidavit explaining why the post has remained vacant and what steps are being taken to appoint a new chairman. The matter will be heard next on August 20.
The court issued the direction while hearing a suo motu PIL concerning vacancies and appointments in the state forest department. During the hearing, JPSC counsel Sanjay Piparwal and Prince Kumar informed the court that the commission had already conducted the Assistant Conservator of Forest (ACF) and Range Forest Officer (RFO) main examinations, and their results had also been declared.
The candidates’ physical tests have been scheduled, but the recruitment process cannot proceed further due to the resignation of the JPSC chairman, the commission informed the court. Taking note of the situation, the bench questioned the state government on the justification for keeping the constitutional post vacant and sought details of the steps being taken to fill it.
The government has been asked to place its position before the court through an affidavit. The issue of the vacant chairman’s post came up during proceedings initiated by the High Court on its own following a report published in a vernacular daily regarding the death of an elephant in the forests of Latehar.
During the course of hearing in the matter, the court also examined the shortage of officers and staff in the forest department and the status of recruitment against vacant posts. The JPSC subsequently informed the court about the progress of the ACF and RFO recruitment process.
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