The MPSC protest in Pune continued at SM Joshi Bridge on its ninth day, with aspirants refusing to leave the site despite a police case against 15 protesters and the state government ruling out the direct removal of the commission chairperson. The standoff has placed the administration’s handling of public demonstrations and the examination body’s credibility at the centre of the dispute.
Vishrambaug police registered the case after protesters continued their agitation over an alleged paper leak in the recruitment examination for drug inspectors under the Food and Drug Administration. The aspirants are demanding the resignation of the Maharashtra Public Service Commission chairperson and have said that the demand is necessary to restore confidence in the examination process.
The police said student representatives had sought permission on September 25 to hold a demonstration near SM Joshi Bridge on October 2. Permission was granted subject to conditions, according to an officer from the Vishrambaug police station. The officer said the representatives later met Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in Mumbai on September 30 and subsequently informed the police that the planned protest had been called off.
The protesters, however, maintained that they should be allowed to continue their peaceful agitation and sought fresh permission to demonstrate at the bridge site. Their representation to the police referred to the alleged examination paper leak and cited an October 7 Bombay High Court hearing, which they said recognised the right to protest when candidates believe examinations are not being conducted fairly.
NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar, who has been supporting the aspirants, was not named in the police case. He demanded that the cases against the students be withdrawn and said they should instead be registered against him. Pawar also questioned the police account, claiming that some people named in the first information report were not present at the protest site on October 1. He further alleged that the gender details of two job aspirants had been recorded incorrectly in the FIR. Police have not been reported as withdrawing or revising the case.
The protest has also affected the health of some participants. Three of the seven aspirants who were on hunger strike—Somnath Chavan, Hrishikesh Gangurde and Gajanan Shelke—ended their fast after their health deteriorated. They accepted milk from Congress MLA Vishwajeet Kadam.
Fadnavis said the state government could not directly remove the MPSC chairperson. He said the government was prepared to order a judicial inquiry by a judge into the allegations and argued that the alleged paper leak occurred before the current chairperson took charge. According to the chief minister, the chairperson, former officials and any other officers found guilty would face action. If the inquiry finds the chairperson responsible, the state would recommend removal to the President under Article 317 of the Constitution.
Fadnavis also said the agitation had initially been led by MPSC aspirants but had since become a political agitation. Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray, who met the protesting students in Pune on October 5, said he had discussed their demands with the chief minister and sensed a positive response. The protesters’ next step remains tied to their demand for permission to continue the demonstration and the government’s proposed inquiry process.
