Recruitment for 585 Grade IV posts in Palamu may restart
TNN | Aug 23, 2026, 04.44 PM IST
Daltonganj: Recruitment for 585 Grade IV posts in the Palamu collectorate and allied offices, stalled since July 2025, could resume following fresh assurances from the district administration.
The vacancies have triggered marches and protests by job aspirants. A nine-day hunger strike ended last week after officials assured protesters that steps would be taken to revive the recruitment process.
Additional collector Kundan Kumar said the matter gained urgency after Supreme Court, in its Feb 10, 2025, judgment, directed the authorities to complete the recruitment within six months — by Aug 9, 2025.
However, a dispute over whether candidates should be selected on the basis of Class X marks or through a written examination led to protests. The personnel department subsequently put the recruitment drive on hold in July last year.
Around 35,000 applications were received for the posts, more than 300 of which were reserved under the applicable roster.
Palamu DC Dilip Pratap Singh Shekhawat said there was no reason for the recruitment not to go ahead. “The recruitment will take place. It is assured,” he said. However, he declined to specify a timeline, saying the state govt was aware of the issue.
Acknowledging the growing demand for a written examination, Shekhawat said: “There is nothing wrong with holding a written test, but the decision is not mine alone. State govt is the final authority. We are awaiting its directive or initiative.”
Officials said restarting the recruitment process would require a fresh advertisement, withdrawal of the 2025 notice and revision of the reservation roster. Applicants who had responded to the earlier notice are likely to be exempted from applying again.
The vacancies have triggered marches and protests by job aspirants. A nine-day hunger strike ended last week after officials assured protesters that steps would be taken to revive the recruitment process.
Additional collector Kundan Kumar said the matter gained urgency after Supreme Court, in its Feb 10, 2025, judgment, directed the authorities to complete the recruitment within six months — by Aug 9, 2025.
However, a dispute over whether candidates should be selected on the basis of Class X marks or through a written examination led to protests. The personnel department subsequently put the recruitment drive on hold in July last year.
Around 35,000 applications were received for the posts, more than 300 of which were reserved under the applicable roster.
Palamu DC Dilip Pratap Singh Shekhawat said there was no reason for the recruitment not to go ahead. “The recruitment will take place. It is assured,” he said. However, he declined to specify a timeline, saying the state govt was aware of the issue.
Acknowledging the growing demand for a written examination, Shekhawat said: “There is nothing wrong with holding a written test, but the decision is not mine alone. State govt is the final authority. We are awaiting its directive or initiative.”
Officials said restarting the recruitment process would require a fresh advertisement, withdrawal of the 2025 notice and revision of the reservation roster. Applicants who had responded to the earlier notice are likely to be exempted from applying again.