Ranchi: Jharkhand high court on Thursday directed the state govt to appoint chairman and members of Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) within two months.A division bench of Chief Justice MS Sonak and Justice Rajesh Shankar was hearing a petition initiated suo motu by the HC on the absence of JPSC chairman and members. Advocate general (AG) Rohitashya Roy informed the HC that the appointment process for chairman is due to be completed soon.The JPSC chairman’s post has been vacant since Jul 21 since L Khiangte stepped down.The court directed the AG to file a compliance report in the matter by Nov 18. The court will hear the case again on Nov 19.Earlier, while hearing the petition, the HC had asked the govt to inform as to by what time it would complete the appointments of JPSC chairman and members.The court was hearing a petition on the shortage of officers and employees in the forest department on which it was informed that JPSC posts were vacant. Absence of a chairman has also affected the recruitment process of new officers and employees in various departments of govt.The court had earlier observed that JPSC is a constitutional body, and the post of chairman cannot be left vacant for a long time.In another decision, the high court directed govt to ensure completion of the Jharkhand Eligibility Test examinations within six months after it is notified by govt.The court was hearing a PIL filed by Aniket Ohdar and was informed that in the absence of the JET examinations, appointment of associate professors and other employees in universities has not been done. Moreover, govt has also cancelled the 2024 JET examinations due to which there has been no appointment of professors for a long time. The court, while hearing the petition, observed that absence of professors in universities is detrimental to the interest of students and govt should take steps to hold and complete the examinations within six months after the notification is issued.
