Story perspectives

Bombay High Court Backs Pune MPSC Protesters’ Rights

By Drooid · Oct 8, 2026, 5:59 PM UTC · How we work

Center

CM refuses dismissal

Since October 2, thousands of Maharashtra Public Service Commission aspirants have protested in Pune, demanding chairman Vivek Bhimanwar’s resignation and exam reforms.
Report stresses: CM Devendra Fadnavis refused to dismiss Bhimanwar, ordered a inquiry, and the Bombay High Court upheld protesters’ rights, praising no FIRs.
Police denied protest permission, issuing notices to 51 students and 29 coaching-class operators.
CM Devendra Fadnavis transferred secretary Mahendra Harpalkar and formed a seven-member stakeholder committee.

Left

Section 168 notices

Since October 2, thousands of Maharashtra Public Service Commission aspirants have protested in Pune, demanding chairman Vivek Bhimanwar’s resignation and reforms.
Protesters say the commission’s failures push poor, rural students into debt, deny them fair exams, and blame Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
Rohit Pawar, Rahul Gandhi and Aaditya Thackeray visited S.M. Joshi Bridge to support protesters.
Police issued Section 168 notices to 100 protesters, which organizers claim aim to suppress agitation.

Blindspot

Opposition leaders Rohit Pawar, Rahul Gandhi and Aaditya Thackeray visited the protest site in Pune to voice support for the demonstrators.
Within this story's sources, this angle appears mainly in Left-leaning coverage and receives less attention in Center-leaning coverage.

History

Historical Context

Recurring exam paper leaks have pressured Indian recruitment agencies reform. After the 2022 Bihar BPSC exam was cancelled and the 2021 Rajasthan REET scandal, the Maharashtra Public Service Commission—a constitutional body under Article 315—remains under scrutiny, while the 2024 Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act introduced heavy penalties. With over 188 documented leaks since 2000, October 2 protests in Pune demand chairman Vivek Bhimanwar’s resignation.

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CM refuses dismissal

Since October 2, thousands of Maharashtra Public Service Commission aspirants have protested in Pune, demanding chairman Vivek Bhimanwar’s resignation and exam reforms.
Report stresses: CM Devendra Fadnavis refused to dismiss Bhimanwar, ordered a inquiry, and the Bombay High Court upheld protesters’ rights, praising no FIRs.
Police denied protest permission, issuing notices to 51 students and 29 coaching-class operators.
CM Devendra Fadnavis transferred secretary Mahendra Harpalkar and formed a seven-member stakeholder committee.

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