“Tell us our crime. Don't throw us out,” one of the candidates said, as quoted by news agency PTI, capturing the anger and uncertainty among those who have already been appointed to government posts.

The Jharkh and government on Monday night announced the cancellation of the JSSC-CGL examination and all recruitment tests conducted by outsourced agency TSR Data Processing Pvt Ltd (TDPL) since 2014, following sustained protests over alleged irregularities in government recruitment exams. While the decision was a key demand of the protesting job aspirants, it has triggered a fresh dispute with candidates who cleared the JSSC-CGL examination arguing that they should not be punished for alleged wrongdoing unless their individual involvement is established.

Successful candidates demand CBI probeThe affected candidates said they do not oppose an investigation into alleged irregularities but want an opportunity to defend themselves. They are now also demanding a CBI probe into the examination process.

“Tell us our crime. Don't throw us out.

We were appointed after a court order,” he said. Appealing to the government outside the Secretariat, Kumar added, “We have come with all documents.

Don't cancel it (exams). Probe it.

Do a CBI probe or whatever investigation you deem fit, but please don't do injustice to us.” The candidates had attempted to meet Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Monday night as he held a marathon meeting with his Cabinet colleagues on the demand to cancel recruitment examinations.

The JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch has been leading the agitation for more than two weeks over alleged corruption and irregularities in job exams. “Democracy means that 100 guilty may be spared, but no innocent should be punished,” she said.

“We could not have bought all these jobs,” she said, rejecting the suggestion that all successful candidates had benefited from alleged malpractice. Candidates cite court scrutiny, fear age-bar problemThe candidates have pointed to previous judicial proceedings involving the recruitment process, saying the examination had already faced investigation and court scrutiny.

They said the Jharkh and High Court, in a December judgment, rejected a demand for a CBI investigation and held that the existing Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe was adequate. They are now seeking a distinction between candidates accused of wrongdoing and those who secured appointments without any established misconduct.