Senior Maharashtra IAS officer Tukaram Mundhe (IAS:2005:MH)’s effect is telling, as Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) aspirants called off their 10-day agitation after the state govt accepted their demands to constitute an inquiry committee with Tukaram Mundhe in it, to probe alleged irregularities and paper leaks in the MPSC. Mundhe has been included as its secretary.
Citing ethical considerations, MPSC Chairman Vivek Bhimanwar has proceeded on leave until the competition of inquiry.
The aspirants’ other demands accepted by the govt include the withdrawal of cases against protesters, recruitment to 70,000 posts over three years, and background checks for MPSC chairman and secretary appointments.
A state government delegation led by minister Shivendra Raje Bhosale met the agitating aspirants and informed them that most of their demands, including the formation of an inquiry committee with officers such as Mundhe in key role in it, have been accepted by the state govt.
Mundhe is known for honesty and ruthlessness in approach. He has been a celebrity bureaucrat with a global audience with even the leading American newspaper, the New York Times, spotlighting the impact of his aggressive food safety drive in the state as Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner.
So, after the protesters were told that a committee had been formed with Mundhe as its secretary to probe into alleged irregularities concerning the MPSC that the protest was called off.
Vivekanad Patil, one of the representatives of the MPSC aspirants, announced the calling off of the agitation for now.
Other than FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe, the committee will also have ex-judge Dilip Bhosale as chairman, IPS officer Laxmi Gautam, ex-IAS officer Ganesh Patil and retired judge P D Naik.
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