Deshmukh writes to Fadnavis, questions judicial probe into MPSC irregularities, seeks Chandiwal report release

Former home minister Anil Deshmukh has written to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, raising serious questions about the judicial inquiry the state government has announced into irregularities and malpractice in Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) examinations and the drug inspector paper leak case. Deshmukh asked directly whether the assurance of a "judicial inquiry" is being given only to suppress students' anger and calm the agitation. He has set out his demands in the letter.

In the letter, Deshmukh cited the experience of the Justice K. U. Chandiwal Commission. He said that seeking an inquiry by a retired High Court judge, through the Governor, into MPSC malpractice is welcome, but the report of such an inquiry must not turn out to be a betrayal of the youth preparing for MPSC.

Deshmukh said the then state government had set up a commission in March 2021 under retired Bombay High Court judge Justice K. U. Chandiwal. After 13 months of in-depth inquiry, the commission submitted a final report of 1,400 pages. According to Deshmukh, he himself sent written letters to the government 13 times and to the Governor twice, seeking to have the report made public. Even so, the government has so far neither released the report nor tabled it in the legislature. Deshmukh drew attention to this.

Deshmukh's main demands are as follows. First, the 1,400-page Chandiwal Commission report should be made public immediately and tabled in the legislature, so that the public is assured the government acts seriously on reports of judicial commissions.

Second, the MPSC chairperson should be made to resign. Deshmukh said a fair inquiry is not possible while the chairperson remains in office, so the resignation should be taken before the inquiry begins.

Third, the judicial inquiry to be set up for MPSC should have a fixed term of two to three months, and its report should be made public as soon as it is received, without any pressure.

Fourth, in the name of the commission of inquiry, action by the police or the SIT against the main accused and the masterminds of the paper leak should not slow down and should continue.

At the end of the letter, Deshmukh urged the state government to consider all these demands seriously, in order to restore public trust in the reports of judicial commissions.