Pune Bureau. The Maharashtra government has constituted a committee to overhaul the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC), the state’s recruitment body. Tukaram Mundhe, currently the Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), was on Sunday named the committee’s secretary. The decision comes amid a 10-day-long agitation by aspirants in Pune.
The announcement was made by state minister Shivendraraje Bhosale at Pune’s SM Joshi Bridge, where aspirants have been sitting on a dharna for ten days over their demands. Interacting with the protesters, the minister informed them about the committee’s formation and assured them that their other demands would also be considered.
Who is on the committee
The panel will be chaired by retired Justice Dilip Bhosale. Its members include IPS officer Laxmi Gautam, former IAS officer Ganesh Patil and retired Justice P. D. Naik. Tukaram Mundhe, as secretary, will play a key role in preparing recommendations to improve the commission’s functioning.
What the aspirants are demanding
The agitating aspirants’ key demands include the withdrawal of cases registered against their representatives, 70,000 recruitments over three years, an increase in the number of seats in the Group-C examination scheduled for January, and background verification of the MPSC chairman and secretary before their appointment. Minister Bhosale told the protesters that the government is taking these demands seriously and that a decision on the remaining demands would be taken soon.
One demand still undecided
However, the government has not taken a clear decision yet on the demand to remove MPSC chairman Vivek Bhimnawar. It remains unclear what stand the government will adopt on this demand. The aspirants say the agitation will continue until concrete action is taken on all their demands.
Rohit Pawar welcomes the move
Rohit Pawar, the NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) MLA who is sitting on the dharna alongside the agitators, welcomed Mundhe’s inclusion in the committee. “We hope the committee will be allowed to work independently,” he said.
Why the agitation
The MPSC is responsible for recruitment to state civil services and other government posts in Maharashtra. Aspirants have long been agitating, demanding transparency in the examination process and systemic reform. The sit-in at Pune’s SM Joshi Bridge has now entered its tenth day, with large numbers of young aspirants joining in.
Source: PTI
