Mumbai: The Maharashtra government on Wednesday announced that the secretary of the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) would be transferred immediately and a judicial inquiry would be conducted within three months into the functioning of former and current chairpersons and members, following a major paper leak that led to widespread protests.
Following a nearly two-hour meeting, the students announced that their agitation scheduled for October 2 would be temporarily suspended.
The students were assured that the inquiry report would be submitted within three months and that further action would be taken based on its findings, according to a statement from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO). The announcement came after chief minister Devendra Fadnavis met a delegation of MPSC aspirants at his official residence, Varsha, on Wednesday.
Officials said recruitment rules are being updated across departments, with preparations underway to fill more vacant posts. The chief minister further assured the students that a single-card system would be introduced for multiple examinations, similar to systems followed in some other states, officials said. Only the president can remove the chairperson, and any such demand must be grounded in firm evidence.
The government also accepted the students’ demand to increase vacancies for the upcoming Group C examination scheduled for January 3. However, he did not agree to the demand to conduct all examinations for ₹ 100, on the lines of the system in Rajasthan, stating that the examination fee should not be reduced to a level that could compromise the integrity and administrative requirements of the examination system. Earlier reporting noted: MPSC students suspend Oct 2 protest after meeting with CM PUNE: The Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) chairman’s functioning will be subjected to a judicial inquiry within three months, while the commission’s secretary will be transferred immediately, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis assured a delegation of MPSC aspirants during a meeting on Wednesday. Earlier reporting noted: According to the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), the students had sought action under Article 317 of the Constitution against former and incumbent MPSC chairpersons and members.
Fadnavis told the delegation that since the post of MPSC chairperson is a constitutional position, neither the state government nor the governor has the authority to directly remove the chairperson, according to officials. If the inquiry recommends removing the chairperson, the report will be forwarded to the president for further action in accordance with constitutional provisions, officials said. The chief minister also assured the students that MPSC examinations would continue to be conducted offline, and no separate decision to change the exam format would be taken without discussions with student groups, officials said. Since the chairman holds a constitutional post and cannot be removed by the state government or the governor, a judicial inquiry will be conducted within three months and further action will be taken based on its findings, the CMO said on a X post Earlier reporting noted: The government assured the students that all MPSC examinations would continue to be conducted offline.
