THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Daltonganj, November 27: A major opportunity for government jobs in Palamu is finally moving forward as the state government has cleared the long-pending Palamu fourth grade recruitment. The upcoming appointments will fill 585 multi-purpose worker posts in various offices under the Palamu collectorate and its line departments.
New designation and expanded duties
The posts previously known as peons have now been redesignated as multi-purpose workers, a key category in ongoing Jharkhand recruitment news. These workers will handle tasks such as operating generator sets, using fax machines, doing minor electrical work, and managing official correspondence through hand delivery or email.
State government refers to 2025 rules
Joint Secretary of the Department of Personnel, Administrative Reforms and Raj Bhasha, Asif Hassan, in a letter dated November 20 to the Palamu Deputy Commissioner, referred to the 2025 service rules and regulations related to the recruitment of multi-purpose workers.
The letter described these rules as “self clear” or “swatah spasht.”
Officials in the Palamu administration felt the directive could have been clearer, especially since this fourth-grade recruitment had already been delayed for months. The Jharkhand Story Network has accessed the letter.
585 vacancies; over 300 reserved
The administration is set to fill 585 Palamu collectorate vacancies, with over 300 reserved posts.
The recruitment process had been progressing steadily when, in July 2025, the state government postponed it until new rules were framed.
Protests and qualification concerns
The sudden halt triggered protests by retrenched staff whose removal had created many of the vacancies. The protesters demanded a written test for the fourth-grade jobs, something the administration refused.
Another point of debate was the Class 10 pass eligibility, which many argued would unfairly favour CBSE 10th pass candidates over JAC 10th pass candidates due to differences in marking patterns. The district administration maintained that it would follow the 2011 Finance Department resolution, which requires only matriculation pass or Class 10 pass for fourth-grade government jobs.
Administration receives updated communication
Additional Collector Kundan Kumar confirmed receiving a fresh letter from the Joint Secretary.
“Under DC Sameera S, we had asked for updated guidelines. The letter refers to the 2025 recruitment rules for multi-purpose workers, calling them swatah spasht,” he said.
He added, “We will now take instructions from our DC to restart the Palamu fourth grade recruitment process.”
More than 35,000 applications already submitted
The administration has already received 35,000+ applications for these government jobs in Palamu.
“These applications will now be processed and tabulated,” the Additional Collector said.
On whether new applications would be invited, he replied, “No. Not at all. There will be no fresh applications. There is a full stop to it.”
Why the 2025 rules do not apply
The 2025 rules, notified through the Extraordinary Gazette, do not apply to any recruitment process that was already underway or under judicial review.
Kundan Kumar stated, “Our 585 vacancies do not fall under the 2025 rules because the process was already running when it was paused, and it had also come under the Supreme Court’s scrutiny. This gives the recruitment immunity from the new rules.”
