Bombay High Court directs Maharashtra to restore confidence in MPSC, urges students back to classrooms
The Bombay High Court on Wednesday directed the Maharashtra government to take steps to restore the trust of students protesting over the recruitment process managed by the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC), and requested them to return to their studies. A Division Bench of Chief Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi and Justice Advait Sethna, hearing a petition about inconvenience caused to citizens in Pune, noted that the matter was before the court and the State must respond in writing.
The court acknowledged that vacancies in government jobs ran to thousands, and that students had raised concerns over examination procedures and alleged paper leaks. The State informed the court that it had accepted certain student demands, including setting the examination fee at ₹100 and holding examinations in person. The State said it had also sent a representation to the Governor regarding the demand for the MPSC Chairperson's resignation. When students protested, it reflected that their grievances needed attention, the court said, emphasizing that the students were in Pune to secure an education and were not against the nation.
The court asked the State to provide details in writing on the recruitment process and vacancies in various departments, and issued notice to the State to file an affidavit. The court also requested that students resume their studies, and if they wished to protest, they must seek permission and find a location that was not a road.
