Raj Thackeray Backs Pune MPSC Protest, Says Chairman’s Removal Requires Constitutional Process
Raj Thackeray Backs Pune MPSC Protest, Says Chairman’s Removal Requires Constitutional Process
Raj Thackeray backed MPSC protesters in Pune and said removing the commission chairman requires the constitutional process under Article 317.
Pune: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray visited the ongoing Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) protest in Pune and extended his support to the agitating aspirants, while explaining that the removal of the commission’s chairman has to follow a constitutional procedure.
The MPSC protest has entered its sixth day in Pune, with a section of aspirants demanding the resignation or removal of chairman Vivek Bhimanwar over concerns related to examination procedures, recruitment and alleged irregularities.
Speaking to protesters, Thackeray said that the chairman cannot simply be removed by the state government and that the process has to follow the provisions of Article 317 of the Constitution. He said the role of the Governor and, where applicable, the Supreme Court is involved in the constitutional mechanism for removal.
Thackeray also urged the students to understand the legal and administrative limitations involved rather than relying only on protests or hunger strikes. He invited representatives of the protesting aspirants to Mumbai on October 9 or 10 for further discussions and offered to meet them at his residence, Shiv Teerth.
The MNS chief also spoke about the wider concerns of young people preparing for government examinations. He questioned the availability of government employment and said that unemployment should not become divided along caste or religious lines.
One of the major demands raised by the protesters is recruitment to around 70,000 government posts. Thackeray cautioned that even a change in government would not automatically result in the immediate filling of all these positions.
The protest has been driven by several demands, including concerns over alleged examination irregularities and paper leaks, recruitment vacancies and the pattern in which MPSC examinations are conducted. Different groups of aspirants in Pune are also seeking changes to either the objective or descriptive examination format.
The agitation comes amid a wider dispute over the functioning of the commission. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has recommended that the Governor consider setting up a committee headed by a retired High Court judge to examine the functioning of former and current MPSC chairpersons and members, with a proposed three-month timeline for the inquiry.
The state government has also transferred MPSC Secretary Mahendra Harpalkar amid the controversy. Fadnavis has maintained that the MPSC chairman holds a constitutional position and cannot simply be removed by the state government.
Meanwhile, the Pune protest continues as aspirants press for action on their demands. The developments surrounding the inquiry and the constitutional process for dealing with the MPSC chairman are expected to influence the next course of the agitation.
Social media Handles :
Instagram
Youtube
Facebook
Twitter
NewsDotz
