The students' protest in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh has entered the fifth day as the protesters displayed their disappointment over the Railway Recruitment Board’s (RRB) examination procedure. On Monday, protestors blocked the railway tracks thereby affecting scheduled train services and staged a protest at the Patna Terminus. The protest reached its boiling point as a bogie of the Bhabua-Patna Intercity Express at the Gaya station was set on fire. There were incidents of vandalism of public property and clashes with local police. On Tuesday, the police in U.P. allegedly entered the students hostel and were seen purportedly lathi-charging students in a video doing rounds on social media. The students allege that there were discrepancies in the exam process and protested the “inaccurate exam results.” This has resulted in a massive spate of criticism from opposition parties such as SP, INC and RJD. Given that the protests have also boiled over into poll-bound UP, it is important to understand in detail the grievances of the students and the response by the Central government.
1. The RRB conducts selection tests for recruiting Group C and D candidates for non-gazette posts for the Indian Railways. On January 14, the results of the RRB for Computer-based Test-1 (CBT) for Group-D in the Non-Technical Popular Categories (NTPC) was declared.
2. The results shortlisted candidates for the second phase of CBT or CBT-2. The candidates opposed this format of the examination. They claim that when the 2019 RRB notification was released, it had no mention of dual-phase CBT, rather the test was supposed to be conducted in a single phase.
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3. In response, the Ministry of Railways dismissed the allegations, saying that the notification for recruitment had mentioned dual-phase CBT exam. “It is reiterated that the procedure for shortlisting of candidates for the second stage computer-based test (CBT) had already been given elaborately under Para 13 of the original notification i.e., CEN 01/2019 published on 28.02.2019) …While the first stage CBT was a common examination for all the candidates, Para 13.2 of the notification clearly states that in the 2nd stage CBT there would be a separate examination for each group (viz., Levels 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6) with differing graded levels of difficulty. Accordingly, all posts falling within the same level shall have a common 2nd stage CBT. Therefore, if a candidate is eligible and has opted for more than one level (as per educational qualification), he/she will have to appear in the corresponding 2nd stage CBT for each level as given in Para 13.6 since the standard (difficulty level) for each group of posts will be different (i.e., of graduate or under-graduate level),” the RRB said in a release a day after the results were declared.
4. The Indian Railways has suspended the examination process. “A high power committee has been formed to look into the concerns and doubts raised by candidates in regard to results of 1st Stage Computer Based Test (CBT) of Centralized Employment Notification (CEN) 01/2019 of Non Technical Popular Categories (NTPC) issued by Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs) on 14-15th January 2022,” Railway said in a release. The report will be submitted to the Ministry of Railways.
5. Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has appealed to the students to not take law in their hands. “We will seriously address the grievances and concerns raised by them (students)… An email address has been set up for this purpose. The committee will go to different parts of the country and listen to grievances,” he added. The candidates can submit their grievances to the committee by 16th February.
6. The protests have hit numerous train services such as Durg-Rajendra Nagar South Bihar Express, the Gaya-Jamalpur passenger, Gaya-Howrah Express and Patna-Varanasi Express. Over 1.25 crores had applied for around 35000 posts varying from level 2-6. The posts include Station Master and Traffic Assistant, Junior Clerk cum Typist, Junior Time Keeper, Accounts Clerk cum Typist, Senior Clerk cum Typist, Junior Account Assistant cum Typist, Senior Time Keeper, Trains Clerk, Commercial cum Ticket Clerk, Goods Guard and Senior Commercial cum Ticket Clerk. Around 60 lakhs appeared for the exam. Famous YouTuber, Khan Sir, who helps candidates prepare for government exams, has been booked for inciting violence.
7. The protests also spilled into neighbouring poll-bound Uttar Pradesh. Prayagraj police dispersed a group of protestors who were allegedly trying to stop a train. Police are seen purportedly entering the rooms in the student hostel which have been doing rounds on social media. They are allegedly seen breaking their doors, baton-charging them and taking them out. In response, Prayargaj ASP Dinesh Kumar Singh has said that some of the residents from the hostel arrived at the railway track and attempted to stop the train. The local police are searching for those involved and that strict action will be taken, media reports quote him saying further. Police have also launched FIRs against several coaching institute teachers for among whom is “Khan Sir.” Both Samajwadi Party and Congress have hit out at Yogi Adityanath-government for its treatment of students.
