Uncertainty persists over 585 Group-D vacancies in Palamu
Pioneer News Service
Daltonganj
A year after the Jharkhand government put the recruitment process for 585 Group-D posts in Palamu on hold, uncertainty continues to cloud the fate of more than 35,000 aspirants who had applied for the vacancies, with no final decision yet on when or how the appointments will be made.
The recruitment drive, announced in 2025 to fill vacant fourth-grade posts across government offices in Palamu district, was suspended following widespread protests over the proposed selection process. The appointments were to be made on the basis of Class 10 marks, a move that triggered strong opposition from job aspirants and local groups who demanded a written examination instead. Protesters argued that a merit list based solely on matriculation scores would disadvantage local candidates.
The issue snowballed into a major political controversy, with demonstrators repeatedly approaching MLAs, MPs and ministers seeking intervention. Acting on a Cabinet decision taken on July 11, 2025, the state Personnel Department formally halted the recruitment process through a notification issued on July 14, 2025.
Speaking on Thursday, Jharkhand Finance Minister Radha Krishna Kishore recalled that he had proposed the postponement in the Cabinet, arguing that the state should first frame comprehensive recruitment rules. Those regulations were subsequently notified in November 2025 and introduced a new designation—Multi-Purpose Worker (MPW)—replacing the traditional fourth-grade category. Under the new framework, an MPW is expected to perform multiple duties beyond conventional office support work.
Despite the new rules being in place, the recruitment remains stalled. Administrative sources indicated that if the process is revived, the previous advertisement is likely to be scrapped and a fresh notification issued, with a written examination replacing the earlier marks-based selection method.
Officials also said applicants who had already paid application fees through bank drafts or postal orders may not be required to pay again and could instead submit a simplified application citing details of their earlier payment.
