The three-language policy requires students to learn three languages in school, with at least two being “native Indian languages” (Bhartiya Bhashas). (File photo)The Supreme Court Monday sought responses from the Centre and Jharkhand Government on a plea seeking an independent, time-bound CBI probe into alleged malpractices in the Jharkhand Combined Civil Services Preliminary Examination.Appearing for petitioner and activist Harisharan Devgan, Senior Advocate Manan Kumar Mishra told a bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant that students had been protesting for more than a month seeking a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation into the alleged irregularities.Mishra told the bench, also comprising Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, that the state had cancelled the examination, but the Jharkhand High Court stayed the decision after hearing the matter. “The state also indirectly supported,” Mishra said.The CJI said the court wants to know whether the judicial service exams are also conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission or separately by the High Court.Also Read | The other Jharkhand story: They fought odds, cleared prelims, but exam got cancelledMishra said the Commission conducted them, to which the CJI said, “We are worried about that”.Mishra urged the Supreme Court to order a CBI investigation, preferably under the supervision of a former Supreme Court judge. The bench, however, indicated that such an investigation would involve forensic examination of evidence and other technical aspects.What petitioner saidThe petitioner said the plea did not seek cancellation of the examination merely on the basis of media reports or protests, but sought an independent investigation to determine the nature and extent of the alleged irregularities.“The principal relief sought is for an independent, impartial, comprehensive and time-bound investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation, so that the nature, extent, mechanism and impact of the alleged irregularities may be objectively determined”.Also Read | Jharkhand HC stays job exam cancellation: What happens to candidates now?“Allegations require examination of the entire examination chain, including preparation and printing of question papers, coding, storage, transportation, distribution, conduct of the examination, collection and custody of OMR sheets, scanning, coding and decoding, evaluation, storage and access to electronic examination data, generation of the result and publication thereof”.The petitioner also sought immediate preservation of physical and digital evidence, including original and candidate-held OMR copies, CCTV footage, and server audit logs, apprehending possible tampering.Ananthakrishnan G. is a Senior Assistant Editor with The Indian Express. He has been in the field for over 26 years, kicking off his journalism career as a freelancer in the late nineties with bylines in The Hindu. A graduate in law, he practised in the District judiciary in Kerala for about two years before switching to journalism. His first permanent assignment was with The Press Trust of India in Delhi where he was assigned to cover the lower courts and various commissions of inquiry. He reported from the Delhi High Court and the Supreme Court of India during his first stint with The Indian Express in 2005-2006. Currently, in his second stint with the daily newspaper, he reports from the Supreme Court and writes on topics related to law and the administration of justice. Legal reporting is his forte though he has extensive experience in political and community reporting too, having spent a decade as Kerala state correspondent, The Times of India and The Telegraph. He is a stickler for facts and has several impactful stories to his credit. ... Read More Tags:Jharkhandsupreme court