Mumbai, Sep 10 (PTI) Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday said his government will take time-bound action on all demands raised by MPSC aspirants, including rechecking of examinations and SIT probes into suspected irregularities.
The government is interested in improving the system and not in hiding anything, he said while assuring of comprehensive reforms to make the recruitment process transparent.
Fadnavis said a new committee headed by senior bureaucrat V Radha would be constituted to recommend comprehensive reforms in the examination system. The committee would travel across Maharashtra and interact with students, parents, teachers and other stakeholders.
Steps related to cases, investigations and recommendations would be initiated within the next eight days, he said while addressing a delegation of MPSC students here.
“If there has been any irregularity, we cannot give justice by hiding it. We have to find it out. Therefore, whether it is the demand for rechecking, an inquiry or an SIT probe, I have accepted all the demands you have raised,” he told the delegation.
He said complaints regarding examinations would first be verified and cases where a prima facie irregularity was found would be referred to the SIT for a detailed investigation.
The investigation into the Drug Inspector examination paper leak was underway and would be taken to its logical conclusion, he added.
Fadnavis said the government was ready to order rechecking of the Group B and Group C examinations held before and in 2025.
Other examinations in which complaints had been received would be re-examined and interviews in those cases would remain suspended until the review was completed, the CM informed.
The chief minister said the government would make available MPSC examination papers, as demanded by the aspirants.
The government would recommend to Maharashtra Public Service Commission that answer sheets be provided under Right to Information Act, Fadnavis said He said confusion over marks in examinations such as Agriculture Services and Food Safety Officer (FSO) would also be examined and rechecking will be undertaken.
Fadnavis said the preliminary report submitted by the crime branch would also be made public. Examinations conducted over the last two-three years would be investigated through the SIT, and the role of agents would also be examined.
“The investigation has not ended with the arrests. We are now trying to find the backward linkages, whom these accused persons spoke to and who else may be involved,” he said.
The government would conduct an SIT probe into all examinations held during the tenures of officials named Lendve, Marathe and Nakhate, a statement from the Chief Minister’s Office said.
He said recommendations of Rajurkar Committee on issues raised by aspirants would be examined and appropriate ones implemented.
On the demand for changes in the recruitment process, Fadnavis said the government would consider giving preference to candidates who have already appeared for multiple examinations so that their years of preparation were not wasted.
He also agreed to examine issues concerning police recruitment. Options such as chips on both legs would be considered, he said.
“A uniform system for awarding marks in police recruitment would be considered for all districts instead of allowing different systems to operate at the level of individual district superintendents of police,” Fadnavis said.
The alleged Rs 9,000 PF issue would also be investigated, the CM added.
He said problems related to recruitment through SARTHI and Mahajyoti would also be addressed.
On interviews carrying 275 marks, Fadnavis said proper guidelines were required to prevent subjective assessment.
The chief minister also assured a probe into allegations in exams conducted by Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA).
On the demand for resignation of the MPSC chairman, Fadnavis said, “Ultimately, action should be taken against the person who is actually responsible. Evidence against the chairman, secretary or any other official can be submitted. The government is ready for an independent inquiry,” the CM said.
There is no question of protecting anyone, he said.
Fadnavis said all the demands raised by the aspirants, including four additional demands, had been accepted and action would be taken in a time-bound manner.
The immediate priority was to ensure the next Maharashtra Public Service Commission examination is conducted with complete transparency, he said.
Around 12.5 lakh applications have been received for the examinations, though some may be duplicate applications or may be excluded for other reasons.
He also announced a dedicated grievance redressal cell in the MPSC, with a retired judge to be appointed for the purpose.
The cell would enable candidates to raise their grievances and receive responses without having to depend on the existing MPSC mechanism, Fadnavis said.
He also said evidence relating to Telegram would be examined and back-tracing would be carried out to identify those involved.
“The recent incident has given us an opportunity to correct the entire system. We are interested in improving the system; we have no interest in hiding anything,” Fadnavis said.
He also defended the decision to postpone upcoming examinations, saying the move was aimed at ensuring they were “foolproof”.
Since recruitment is being undertaken on such a large scale for the first time, examinations would be held only after the entire system is ready, he said. PTI MR BNM
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