The Maharashtra government has appointed Maharashtra Public Service Commission member Satish Baban Waghole to the additional charge of chairman after incumbent Vivek Bhimanwar went on leave amid an inquiry into alleged examination paper leaks. Mumbai Suburban district collector Saurabh Katiyar has also been given the additional charge of MPSC secretary.
The General Administration Department issued the order assigning Waghole the chairman’s additional charge and Katiyar the secretary’s additional charge. The appointments provide an interim leadership arrangement while the state moves to set up a committee to examine allegations concerning the commission’s recruitment examinations.
The proposed inquiry committee will be headed by retired Justice Dilip Bhosale and has been given two months to complete its investigation. According to the government announcement cited in the report, the committee’s formal notification will be issued after approval from the Governor. The state is expected to consider the committee’s findings before deciding on further action.
The chairman’s post became vacant for operational purposes after Bhimanwar announced that he would go on leave while the inquiry was under way. In his statement, Bhimanwar said that he had always prioritised ethics in his professional life.
The government’s decision follows an 11-day protest by competitive examination aspirants in Pune. The students sought an independent investigation, greater transparency in the commission’s examination procedures and accountability from its senior leadership. Their agitation centred on alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations, including the Drug Inspector examination conducted in March.
The secretary’s additional charge has also been assigned amid changes within the commission’s administration. Katiyar’s appointment followed the transfer of former MPSC secretary Mahendra Harpalkar, according to the report. Students had demanded action against the commission’s senior leadership during their protest, including calls for resignations.
The allegations have placed the MPSC’s examination system under scrutiny because the commission conducts recruitment examinations for posts in the Maharashtra state administration. Any disruption or loss of confidence in the process can affect examination schedules, candidate participation and the credibility of appointments made through competitive recruitment.
The immediate administrative changes do not establish the allegations as proven. The proposed committee’s inquiry is expected to examine the claims and recommend measures relating to the commission’s functioning. Its formal appointment is now subject to approval from the Governor, after which the two-month inquiry period is expected to begin.
