Shiv Sena MLC Bacchu Kadu has demanded the resignation of the Maharashtra Public Service Commission chairman and secretary following the alleged leak of the Drug Inspector Group B screening examination question paper.
Kadu said the top officials of the commission should accept moral responsibility for the controversy and step down from their positions. His demand comes after police arrested six people, including three officials associated with the Maharashtra Public Service Commission, in connection with the alleged paper leak.
The case relates to the Drug Inspector Group B screening examination conducted earlier this year. According to reports, investigators suspect that the examination questions were accessed before the test and allegedly compiled and circulated to unauthorised individuals. The arrests have raised concerns about the security of examination material and the functioning of the recruitment system.
The Maharashtra Public Service Commission has acknowledged the paper leak and announced that the affected examination will be conducted again. The development has caused concern among candidates who had already invested considerable time and resources in preparing for the recruitment process.
Kadu argued that the commission’s senior leadership should take responsibility for the incident. He said that if the chairman and secretary do not resign voluntarily, he would raise the issue with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, according to his statement reported by the media.
The Shiv Sena MLC also raised questions about the structure and appointments within the commission. He called for the MPSC chairman and members to remain free from political affiliations or connections. He further suggested that the commission’s secretary should be a senior Indian Administrative Service officer rather than an official from the state secretariat cadre.
Kadu also demanded a detailed inquiry into the appointment of the commission’s joint secretary and controller of examinations. He alleged that officials from the Mantralaya cadre had been deputed without the approval of the commission. These claims will need to be examined by the competent authorities as part of any formal inquiry.
The latest controversy has intensified concerns over the credibility of competitive examinations in Maharashtra. Candidates appearing for government recruitment examinations depend on the integrity and confidentiality of the examination process. Any unauthorised access to question papers can affect candidates who have prepared through legitimate means.
The arrests have also increased political pressure on the Maharashtra government and the MPSC to strengthen examination security. Opposition and political leaders have demanded greater accountability, while authorities are continuing to investigate how the examination material was allegedly accessed and distributed.
Reports indicate that the investigation is examining the role of MPSC officials and other individuals allegedly connected with the leak. The police investigation is expected to determine how the question paper was obtained, whether money or other benefits were exchanged, and whether additional people were involved in the alleged network.
The issue is particularly significant because several competitive examinations in Maharashtra have faced allegations of irregularities or paper leaks in the past. Such incidents have repeatedly led to concerns among students and job aspirants about the fairness of recruitment examinations.
For candidates affected by the Drug Inspector examination controversy, the decision to conduct a fresh examination is an important development. However, a re-examination also means additional preparation, travel and financial costs for candidates who had already completed the earlier process.
Kadu’s demand for the resignation of the MPSC chairman and secretary has therefore added a political dimension to the ongoing investigation. His position is that senior officials should accept responsibility for the administrative failure and step aside on moral grounds.
At the same time, the allegations against the arrested individuals remain subject to the ongoing investigation and legal proceedings. Arrest alone does not establish guilt, and the final responsibility of each accused person will have to be determined through due legal process.
The controversy has placed renewed focus on the need for stronger safeguards in government recruitment examinations. Secure handling of question papers, restricted access to sensitive examination material, transparent administrative procedures and prompt action against malpractice are among the measures likely to receive greater attention following the incident.
The investigation and the proposed fresh examination will now be closely watched by thousands of candidates and job aspirants across Maharashtra. The outcome of the probe could also influence future measures adopted by the Maharashtra Public Service Commission to prevent examination-related irregularities.