Jharkhand Excise Constable Recruitment: 12 Candidates Die While Taking Physical Test

The recruitment process for excise constables in Jharkhand has turned grim as the physical tests have led to tragic deaths. Twelve candidates have died in the race for excise constable recruitment in Jharkhand, while more than 100 candidates are said to have been hospitalised. The process of running for the excise constable recruitment examination started on August 22, 2024. The news about the death of four candidates surfaced on August 28, 2024. Even after that, the recruitment exam continued. After several consecutive deaths, CM Hemant Soren has postponed the recruitment exam for three days. According to the notification issued by Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC) for Jharkhand Excise Constable Recruitment, the recruitment is to be done for a total of 583 posts, while so far 1,27,572 have appeared in the physical test. Not only this, out of the total candidates, 78,023 candidates have already been declared successful, which includes 55,439 male candidates and 21,582 female candidates.

In Jharkhand, a total of 7 centres have been set up across the state for the excise constable recruitment examination, which include Giridih, Palamu, CTC Mosabani, Sahebganj apart from two examination centres in Ranchi. The news of the death of the candidates first came from the Palamu district. After the examination on August 27, four more candidates died the very next day. From the Hazaribagh district, two more students are said to have died while involved in the race. After August 28, the news of the death of the candidates started coming from other districts as well. As the controversy over this increased, the police finally confirmed the total death toll of 11 candidates as of September 1, Sunday. The total death toll has now increased to 12, as news of another candidate has come from the Ranchi hospital.

Police spokesperson Amol V Homkar said in an interview that adequate arrangements, including medical teams, medicines, ambulance, mobile toilets and drinking water, were ensured at all centres. The incident has sparked controversy with BJP Rajya Sabha MP Aditya Sahu criticising the government’s appointment policies and calling for Rs 50 lakh compensation for the families of the deceased candidates, along with job provisions for their dependents.