Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
The Maharashtra government has formed a five-member committee to investigate alleged paper leaks and irregularities in Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) examinations, with its mandate covering the tenures of both current and former chairpersons and members of the recruitment body.
Senior IAS officer Tukaram Mundhe has been named secretary of the panel, which will examine the functioning of the commission under its present and past leadership.
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The committee will be headed by former judge Dilip Bhosale and include IPS officer Laxmi Gautam, former IAS officer Ganesh Patil and retired judge P D Naik. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had proposed the panel last week, saying it would investigate the MPSC’s functioning across the tenures of current and former office-bearers.
State minister Shivendraraje Bhosale announced the panel’s composition on Sunday after meeting MPSC aspirants at SM Joshi Bridge in Pune, where they had been protesting for 10 days, demanding reforms in the commission. The aspirants subsequently called off their agitation.
MPSC CHAIRMAN GOES ON LEAVE
Soon after the announcement, MPSC chairman Vivek Bhimanwar said he had proceeded on leave until the inquiry was completed. Bhosale also assured the protesters that their other demands would be addressed.
These include withdrawing cases against some representatives of the agitation, filling 70,000 posts over three years, increasing the number of seats in the Group C examination scheduled for January, and conducting background checks on the MPSC chairman and secretary before their appointment.
WHY THE INQUIRY WAS ORDERED
Last week, Fadnavis said the aspirants had demanded Bhimanwar’s removal over paper leaks that occurred before he took charge of the recruitment body. The protesters had sought a recommendation from the state government to the President for his removal.
“The state government proposed a judicial inquiry committee which would probe current as well as the past chairpersons and officials (members) of the MPSC,” the chief minister said.
Fadnavis added that if the committee found misconduct by the chairperson, its recommendation would be sent to the President under Article 317 of the Constitution for appropriate action. Article 317 deals with the removal and suspension of the chairperson and members of a Public Service Commission.
ROHIT PAWAR WELCOMES MUNDHE’S INCLUSION
NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar, who had joined the aspirants’ protest, welcomed Mundhe’s inclusion in the panel, expressing hope that the committee would have the freedom to conduct its inquiry properly.
Pawar said the inquiry was necessary for the “purification” of the MPSC. He added that the panel would investigate alleged irregularities in examinations as well as the tenures of current and former chairpersons and other members. “We are sure that with Mundhe in the committee, the probe will be transparent,” the MLA said.
The inquiry will thus examine both alleged examination irregularities and the role of present and past MPSC office-bearers, while the government has assured aspirants that their wider demands concerning recruitment and reforms will also be taken up.
– Ends
With PTI inputs
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
