MUMBAI: The Bombay high court on Wednesday said students protesting against alleged malpractices in Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) examinations were “not anti-social elements” and stressed that the state government must ensure recruitment exams are conducted fairly and without irregularities.The court also said aggrieved students have the right to protest, while urging them to return to their studies as it examined their grievances.A bench of Chief Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi and Justice Advait Sethna said the government must assure students that examinations would be conducted in an “impartial, fair” manner and without malpractices.
HC says protesting students have right to agitate
The court was hearing a petition filed by Pune residents against the ongoing agitation in the city by students and others over alleged malpractices in MPSC examinations and other examination-related controversies.The bench said the government must make sincere efforts to restore the confidence of people, particularly students, in the examination system.“If they (students) do not have an opportunity and they get the idea that there has been hanky panky, they have the right to agitate. Because they have given hours of study,” the court said.Advocate General Milind Sathe, appearing for the state government, said authorities had shown reasonable restraint and had not registered any FIRs against the protesters.He also said most of the demands raised by the agitators had been met.“One of their demands was the resignation of the MPSC Chairman. A recommendation has been sent to the Governor as per the procedure and further action is awaited,” Sathe said.Appreciating the government’s decision not to lodge cases against the protesters, the court said, “The protesters are students. They are not anti-social elements.”
HC asks students to return to studies
The court, however, urged the students to return to their education as the matter was now before the court.“The court is now seized of the matter and the trust should be restored. Their grievances should be addressed. Free and fair examinations should take place. I will look into how the state is moving. They should trust the court,” the HC said.It also asked the protesters to consider the difficulties faced by their families and return to their colleges.“These children are innocent, but now they are on the roads. Their careers will be spoilt,” Chief Justice Tripathi said, while also asking the protesters to ensure that no hardship was caused to the peace-loving city and its residents.
Bombay HC seeks roadmap from Maharashtra govt
The bench directed the state government to submit a roadmap and a report within three weeks.The matter has been posted for further hearing on November 25.The petition, filed by Pune residents Amit Supekar and Sourabh Virkar, named the state government as well as protest organisers Pramod Patil, Nitin Andhale and Chetan Wagaj as respondents.One of the organisers told the court that they would withdraw their agitation, while the other two said they were willing to relocate their protest to any place provided by the Pune authorities.(With PTI inputs)
