Pune: Following a brief standoff between protesting Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) aspirants and govt representation sent to address them, it was declared in the early hours of Monday that commission chairperson Vivek Bhimanwar will be sent on compulsory leave till an inquiry committee constituted by govt submits its report.The resignation of Bhimanwar had been among prime demands put forth by the aspirants during their 11-day protest.Following the announcement by state public works minister and govt representative Shivendra Raje Bhosale, MPSC protesters agreed to withdraw agitation at 1.25am amid loud cheers.Around the same time, Bhimanwar posted on X, “State govt has announced a judicial inquiry into the MPSC paper leak case. I have always given priority to ethics throughout my life. Therefore, I have decided to proceed on leave and not continue in office until the inquiry is completed. The autonomy and credibility of the MPSC, as well as the interests of students, have always been my priorities and will continue to remain so. Jai Hind! Jai Maharashtra!”Among other decisions relayed to aspirants late on Sunday evening, govt has agreed to appoint IAS officer Tukaram Mundhe as secretary of a two-month inquiry committee to investigate alleged paper leaks in MPSC examinations. Govt has also agreed to withdraw cases registered against protesters and double the number of Group C posts to be filled through the 2027 examination, according to a draft of decisions handed over to protesters.Bhosale announced the decisions at the protest site after nearly two hours of discussions with NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar, who has been leading the stir, and other representatives of the aspirants. Also present at the site was Congress politician Vishwajeet Kadam, who has been backing the agitating aspirants.“The inquiry commission is being constituted under the law. As demanded by the students, IAS officer Mundhe will serve as its secretary. The committee will function under a retired judge as chairperson,” Bhosale said.Mundhe has been in the news in recent months after taking charge as commissioner of the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for a slew of crackdowns on establishments related to hygiene, licences, adulteration and more.The five-member committee will include retired judge Dilip Bhosale, administrative officers Mundhe, BD Naik and Ganesh Patil, and police officer Lakhmi Gautam. It will investigate alleged irregularities in examinations conducted by the commission, including paper leaks. The panel will be given 60 days to submit its report.“The draft outlines govt’s position on the other demands as well. The chief minister has constituted a committee of officers capable of bringing about fundamental administrative changes to MPSC,” Bhosale said.Govt has also committed to filling 70,000 vacant posts over the next three years. The number of posts to be filled through the 2027 Group C examination will be doubled, according to the draft. Cases registered against protesters during the agitation will also be withdrawn, it stated.The aspirants have been demanding accountability over alleged examination irregularities, changes in the commission’s functioning and a transparent recruitment process. They have also sought action against officials responsible for the alleged paper leaks.Initially in the evening, govt remained non-committal on Bhimanwar’s removal. On this topic, Pawar even said, “Till the scrutiny inquiry is completed, if Bhimanwar is not involved in the process, there should be no problem. The process to remove Bhimanwar will continue. This is a win-win situation for all, and therefore, the protesters should agree to withdraw their agitation. Govt has agreed to most of the demands, which have been given in writing and signed by the Maharashtra chief secretary.”However, as of half past midnight, protesters refused to suspend the agitation or move from the site, saying their main demand of Bhimanwar’s resignation was still in limbo. An hour down the line, when the decision to send Bhimanwar on leave till the inquiry’s report is submitted was announced, the aspirants’ acquiesced and agreed to withdraw their protest.
