Mumbai: Hours after NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar alleged that MPSC was trying to dispose of and destroy old documents through a tender for shredding and processing ‘waste documents’, MPSC put the tender process on hold. The documents to be shredded included answer sheets, answer booklets, application forms, letters, magazines, old documents, polythene bags and sweeping waste.“Why the sudden rush to dispose of and destroy old documents from MPSC? Why all this ‘haste’? Is this the fallout from the Judicial inquiry and the clout of Tukaram Mundhe? If the intention is to completely cleanse the MPSC, then all old documents must also be scrutinised—that’s the only way the truth will come out. Therefore, the MPSC’s Secretary or the government should immediately take note and issue directives to stay this decision to destroy the scrap until the inquiry is fully completed,” Rohit said in a post on X.Hours after Rohit’s post, MPSC said in a post on X, “A circular was published on the MPSC’s website. The process is being temporarily stayed.”“The big shots in the MPSC shouldn’t even try to get too clever! Just because the movement has been suspended doesn’t mean everything’s calm, and we’re not paying attention—nobody should think that. We won’t let off anyone who leaks papers and plays Holi with the students’ futures. Let the inquiry happen, and all the paper leakers will surely go home,” Rohit said after MPSC stayed the waste paper shredding tender.Govt has set up a high-level, five-member inquiry committee headed by former Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court Dilip Bhosale to probe allegations of paper leaks and overhaul the functioning of MPSC. IAS officer Tukaram Mundhe is the secretary of this committee. Soon after MPSC Chairman Bhimanwar announced he was proceeding on leave, MPSC aspirants ended their 11-day agitation in Pune.Meanwhile, with the state govt terminating the deputation of MPSC secretary Mahendra Harpalkar, Mumbai suburban collector Saurabh Katiyar has been given the additional charge as MPSC secretary. Officials said that with MPSC chairperson Vivek Bhimanwar proceeding on leave, the chairperson’s charge will soon be given to an existing member of MPSC. Katiyar is an IAS officer of the 2016 batch. Current MPSC members include Abhay Wagh, Satish Deshpande, Rajeev Nivatkar, Dilip Patil-Bhujbal and Satish Waghole. Officials said one of them is likely to take additional charge or be appointed acting chairperson in Bhimanwar’s absence.Bhimanwar early on Monday announced that he is going on leave till the judicial enquiry into paper leaks in MPSC and its functioning is complete. The state govt has set up a high-level five-member inquiry committee headed by former Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court Dilip Bhosale to probe allegations of paper leaks and overhaul the functioning of MPSC. IAS officer Tukaram Mundhe is the secretary of this committee. Soon after Bhimanwar announced he was proceeding on leave, MPSC aspirants ended their 11-day agitation led by NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar in Pune.
