Ranchi: The Jharkhand High Court (HC) on Tuesday directed the state government to file a counter-affidavit by September 18 in a case challenging the cancellation of appointments made through the 11th and 13th Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) examinations.
The court on August 20 stayed the execution of the government's notifications cancelling the appointments of candidates selected through the 11th and 13th JPSC examinations. It had also stayed the order cancelling the appointments of food safety officers.
Justice Deepak Roushan, while continuing the stay granted earlier on the termination of the employees, ordered the government to file its affidavit immediately and fixed the next date of hearing on October 18 at 10.30 am.
"The court reiterated that it wanted to hear the case on a fast-track basis as it affects a large number of people. The state sought four weeks, but the court refused it," one of the lawyers said.
The court had earlier directed the government to file its reply by September 7, and had posted the matter for hearing today.
The reply of the government was not filed. As such, Advocate General Rohitashya Roy, along with Supreme Court senior advocate Meenakshi Arora, pleaded for four weeks on behalf of the government to file the status report in the case.
Arguing on behalf of the petitioner Ramesh Oraon and others, advocates Indrajit Sinha, Amritansh Vats and Chanchal Jain pleaded before the court that the matter was of grave significance as employment of several candidates, who have successfully cleared the competitive exams, was at stake.
Following the court's interim order earlier, the petitioners and other employees selected through the 11th and 13th JPSC examinations, whose appointments were affected by the government notification, were allowed to continue in their respective posts.
The court, however, had made it clear that if any candidate is found to have secured appointment through foul means, they would face consequences, including termination from service. It had further said that the final status of the candidates' appointments would be decided after completion of the investigation and in accordance with the outcome of the case.