Pune, October 7: Candidates have been protesting against the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) for over a month, demanding accountability and transparency in the recruitment process. Protesters in Pune raised slogans against the MPSC and even carried out a mock funeral procession for the commission.
Today, the Bombay High Court held a hearing on the matter, demanding a response from the Maharashtra government regarding 70,000 vacant positions and the recruitment process within three weeks. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has also announced an investigation into the commission. The court acknowledged the candidates’ concerns but advised them to focus on their studies instead of protesting.
The main demand of the protesters is the resignation of MPSC Chairman Vivek Bhimanwar. Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leader Raj Thackeray joined the protests, and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is expected to meet with candidates on October 7-8.
Candidates have been expressing their grievances over issues like paper leaks and lack of transparency in the examination process. The protests, which began on June 30 against the decision to conduct MPSC exams via Computer-Based Testing (CBT), have escalated over time.
In August, the MPSC canceled the Drug Inspector recruitment exam due to a paper leak, further fueling candidates’ anger. The candidates are demanding accountability from MPSC officials and a thorough investigation into the alleged irregularities in the recruitment process.
The protests are currently taking place at three different locations in Pune, with varying demands from the students. Prominent political figures, including Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray and Congress leader Supriya Sule, have shown their support for the candidates.
MPSC Chairman Vivek Bhimanwar responded to the allegations, stating that if he is found guilty, he will resign immediately. He emphasized that the commission has taken steps to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future.
As the situation unfolds, candidates remain determined to fight for their rights and demand a fair recruitment process.