Satish Baban Waghole has been given additional charge as chairperson of the Maharashtra Public Service Commission during the leave of incumbent Vivek Bhimanwar, as the state recruitment body faces allegations of examination paper leaks and other irregularities.
The Maharashtra government’s General Administration Department issued a notification on October 16 appointing Waghole to hold the additional charge with effect from the same day. Bhimanwar has proceeded on leave after stating that he would remain away until an inquiry into the allegations is completed.
Waghole’s appointment comes after growing dissatisfaction among MPSC aspirants over the functioning of the commission, which conducts recruitment examinations for posts in the Maharashtra government. The controversy has increased demands for greater transparency in the examination process and accountability within the state’s recruitment system.
Earlier this month, MPSC aspirants staged a 10-day protest in Pune. The protesters demanded action over alleged examination irregularities and sought Bhimanwar’s removal as chairperson. They also called for cases registered against some representatives of the agitation to be withdrawn and for recruitment opportunities in state government departments to be expanded.
The Maharashtra government has formed a committee to investigate the allegations, including claims related to examination paper leaks. The committee is headed by Tukaram Mundhe, a senior Indian Administrative Service officer who serves as secretary. According to officials cited in the report, the inquiry will examine the tenures of the current and previous chairpersons and members of the commission.
The investigation is expected to assess the allegations raised by aspirants and review the functioning of the state recruitment body over the periods under examination. Bhimanwar has said he will remain on leave until the inquiry is completed, while Waghole will hold the chairperson’s additional charge during this period.
The protests have also brought recruitment capacity into focus. Aspirants have demanded recruitment to 70,000 posts over three years and sought an increase in the number of vacancies for the Group C examination scheduled for January. They have additionally called for background checks on candidates appointed as MPSC chairperson and secretary before they assume office.
The immediate administrative change therefore takes place alongside a wider examination of how the commission manages recruitment, communicates with candidates and responds to allegations concerning the fairness of competitive examinations. The government-ordered inquiry is the next formal step in addressing the concerns raised by aspirants.
