The Jharkhand Bar Council has filed a plea in the high court challenging a state government decision to ban internet services during a combined graduate level examination conducted by the Jharkhand Staff Service Commission (JSSC). The order, issued by the Jharkhand home department late Friday night, halted internet services from 8 am to 1:30 pm on Saturday and Sunday to prevent unfair practices during the exam. Rajendra Krishna, chairman of the Bar Council, moved the high court on Saturday, contesting the state’s decision to cut internet services for around six hours over the weekend.
The decision drew sharp criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), with party members labeling it as “impractical” and “laughable.”
A division bench of justices Anand Sen and Anubha Rawat Chaudhary did not issue a stay but directed the state to respond within four weeks. “The court did not pass a stay order as the restrictions for Saturday had already passed, and Sunday is a public holiday,” said Krishna. Approximately 640,000 aspirants are expected to sit for the examination across 823 centers in Jharkhand.
The exam was previously canceled in January due to allegations of a paper leak, which is now being investigated by a special investigation team (SIT) of the Jharkhand Police. The order prohibiting “mobile internet, mobile data, and mobile Wi-Fi services of all service providers” was issued by home secretary Vandana Dadel. However, the government clarified that “voice calls and broadband connectivity based on fixed telephone lines may remain operational during the aforementioned period.”
The Jharkhand government noted that some individuals had resorted to unfair practices using various mobile applications, such as Facebook, WhatsApp, X (Twitter), Telegram, and YouTube, in previous instances.
“The government of Jharkhand aims to eliminate any loopholes that might compromise the integrity of the recruitment process,” a statement read.
Jharkhand Bar files plea on ban
The internet ban has led to a war of words between the opposition and the ruling government.
BJP president Babulal Marandi demanded the withdrawal of the order, arguing that the internet is essential for daily activities including education, banking, and healthcare, and that the ban could disrupt economic activities. “Hemant ji, why only the internet? You can also ban people from leaving their homes.
You can also impose a curfew. This order was imposed without prior notice, merely to shield your failures,” Marandi stated. Congress leader and state rural development minister Irfan Ansari defended the move, accusing the BJP of attempting to disrupt the examination.
“We know their intention. Strict orders have been given to ensure these people do not create chaos by making baseless allegations of paper leaks. If the internet can be cut for the Prime Minister’s visit, it can certainly be done for the welfare of students,” Ansari retorted.
