Mumbai: The Bombay High Court has directed the Maharashtra Government to take concrete steps to fill more than 70,000 vacant posts and restore students’ trust in the recruitment system. The court also appealed to protesting MPSC aspirants in Pune to return to their studies while assuring them that their concerns would be examined carefully.
The observations came during a hearing related to ongoing protests by Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) aspirants over alleged irregularities, paper leak concerns, and delays in recruitment. The court stressed that examinations must be conducted fairly and transparently.
What is the Reason of MPSC Protest
Thousands of MPSC aspirants have been demanding reforms in the recruitment process.
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Students have raised concerns regarding alleged examination irregularities, paper leaks, delays in recruitment, and the large number of vacant government posts across departments. The protesters claim these issues have affected their confidence in the recruitment system.
The Bombay High Court noted that if students are protesting in large numbers, their grievances should not be ignored and deserve serious consideration.
MPSC Protest Row: Court Says Students Are Not Anti-Nationals
A division bench led by Chief Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi and Justice Advait Sethna made strong observations during the hearing.
The judges stated that students protesting over recruitment concerns should not be labeled as anti-nationals. According to the court, students generally focus on education and careers, and if they come onto the streets, it indicates that they have serious concerns that require attention.
Court Calls For Restoration Of Trust
The bench emphasized that the Maharashtra Government must take sincere steps to restore trust in the examination and recruitment system. The judges observed that public recruitment examinations should be conducted in a fair, impartial, and transparent manner so that candidates have confidence in the process.
MPSC Protest Row: High Court Directs State To Speed Up Recruitment
One of the most significant observations made by the court was regarding vacant government posts. The bench highlighted that more than 70,000 vacancies are pending and said the recruitment process must move at a much faster pace. The state government has been asked to provide detailed information about vacancies and recruitment plans. The court directed the state to submit a clear response explaining how it plans to fill vacant posts across various departments.
Detailed Recruitment Roadmap Sought
The judges asked the government to provide department-wise details of vacancies and explain the future recruitment strategy. According to the court, clearing backlog vacancies is essential to provide fair opportunities to deserving candidates preparing for competitive examinations.
Maharashtra Government Explains Students’ Demands
During the hearing, Maharashtra Advocate General Dr. Milind Sathe informed the court about the demands raised by students. According to the state, students sought the resignation of the MPSC chairman, reduction of examination fees, offline examinations, and improvements in recruitment transparency. The government informed the court that some demands had already been accepted. The state also said that a representation regarding the chairman’s issue had been sent to the Governor for consideration.
Court Urges Students To Resume Studies
While acknowledging the concerns of aspirants, the High Court urged students to return to classes and continue their preparation. The bench assured students that the matter is now before the court and that their concerns would receive proper judicial scrutiny. The judges expressed concern that prolonged protests could negatively affect students’ careers.
Public Inconvenience Must Be Avoided
The court also addressed complaints from citizens regarding road blockades and disruptions caused by protests. The judges requested students to avoid causing public inconvenience and stated that if demonstrations continue, they should be conducted only after obtaining proper permission and at designated locations.
FAQs
The court referred to more than 70,000 vacant government posts and directed the Maharashtra Government to provide a detailed recruitment plan.
The Bombay High Court said students protesting over MPSC issues should not be called anti-nationals and noted that their concerns appear genuine and deserve serious attention.
Students are protesting over alleged examination irregularities, paper leak concerns, recruitment delays, and the large number of vacant government posts.
