Maharashtra forms MPSC reform panel after Pune protest, names Tukaram Mundhe as secretary

The Maharashtra government has constituted a committee to recommend reforms in the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC), appointing Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe as its secretary. The decision, announced on Sunday, came amid a 10-day agitation by MPSC aspirants in Pune over recruitment-related demands and alleged examination irregularities.

The committee will be headed by former Bombay High Court judge Dilip Bhosale. Its other members are IPS officer Laxmi Gautam, former IAS officer Ganesh Patil and retired judge P D Naik. The panel has been given 60 days to complete its work.

State minister Shivendraraje Bhosale conveyed the government's decision after meeting the protesters at SM Joshi Bridge, where candidates have been demonstrating over reforms in the state recruitment body.

Rohit Pawar welcomes Mundhe's appointment

Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) MLA Rohit Pawar, who led the protesters' delegation, welcomed Mundhe's inclusion in the committee and expressed hope that the panel would be able to function independently.

“We hope that the committee will have the freedom to work properly,” Pawar said, stressing that Mundhe should be allowed to conduct an independent investigation without interference.

The government has also assured the aspirants that their other demands would be addressed. These include withdrawing cases registered against some representatives of the agitation, recruiting 70,000 candidates to various posts over three years and increasing the number of vacancies in the Group C examination scheduled for January.

The protesters have also called for background checks on the MPSC chairman and secretary before their appointments. However, it remained unclear whether the government had decided on their demand for the removal of MPSC chairman Vivek Bhimnawar.

Chairman's resignation remains key sticking point

Earlier on Sunday, a government delegation led by Bhosale held talks with the protesters. The delegation, acting on the instructions of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, presented a draft outlining proposed reforms in response to the aspirants' demands.

Pawar read out the provisions of the proposed settlement to the gathering. He said the government had responded positively to the protesters' demands, but the MPSC chairman's resignation remained the principal point of disagreement.

“Our main demand was MPSC chairman Bhimanwar’s resignation. How long would we have fought over this issue? We could have continued indefinitely. We also have to decide how far to take this,” Pawar said.

He added that the protesters had raised 15 other demands after initially focusing on the chairman's resignation.

Government assures action on recruitment concerns

Pawar described the proposed settlement as a “win-win situation”, saying the government had agreed to consider the aspirants' demands and establish a committee to investigate examination irregularities.

The formation of the panel marks an attempt by the state government to address the concerns raised during the prolonged agitation, while the protesters continue to seek accountability within the recruitment system and assurances that the proposed reforms will be implemented.

The committee's findings are expected within 60 days and could shape the next steps in the government's efforts to reform the MPSC and address the recruitment concerns raised by aspirants.