Around 360 MPSC candidates are still awaiting their training

PUNE: While the new batch of Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) candidates will soon get their allotments, around 360 candidates from the previous batch are still awaiting their training.

The training of 377 candidates was to begin from August 2018. However, a legal case was filed by few candidates challenging the seat reservation for 17 women candidates, who had applied in open women category despite being from reserved categories. This had stalled the recruitments of 360 candidates, who are struggling to make their ends meet from the past seven months.

Sagar Dhawale (24), who currently works as a waiter in a catering agency to earn his living, had cleared three government exams and has secured positions as Police Sub-Inspector (PSI), Sales Tax Inspector (STI) and Excise Sub-Inspector (ESI) before being appointed as Tehsildar in MPSC. 

“The results of all four exams were declared within four months and I had resigned from the first three positions and opted for Tehsildar. But the training for this never started. Therefore, I do odd jobs to help my family financially, and in between, I am also preparing for another round of MPSC,” said Dhawale, who belongs from a small village in Shirur Taluka. His father has been bedridden for a while and mother is a farm labourer. 

“My parents don’t know what is happening? Whenever they ask about my training, I tell them it will start soon. They don’t understand the complications,” added Dhawale.

The same situation is of Ajay Patankar (28) of Karad village in Satara district.

“I was appointed for the Chief Officer’s position. Immediately, after I completed my graduation in 2012, I started preparing for MPSC. I got selected last year. But since the training hasn’t started and I have to support my family of 12 members, I was forced to join our family business. We have a small shop and manage to make a minimum profit to survive. There is pressure from my family to fully focus on our family shop and try to make some earning but I wish to work as a civil servant and I have worked hard for it,” said Patankar.

Such are the stories of most of these candidates who are keeping an eye on the judgement date. The Aurangabad High Court has reserved its order of judgement. The hearings, in this case, was completed in October 2018. 

“We are trying to clear the case as soon as possible - say within a month. Since the results of the new batch of MPSC examination held recently will be released soon, it will be difficult to cater to so many candidates,” said Vilas Thakur, Deputy Secretary of General Administration Department (GAD). “As per the Supreme Court’s order to consider a certain number of seats as open seats for all, Maharashtra government had issued a resolution regarding the same. And, according to MPSC guidelines, those who come from the reserved category cannot take admission through an open category. This has created the confusion,” said Thakur.

“High Court has put a stay on the order, and we are awaiting its clearance. As soon as the court passes the order, we will start our procedure,” assured Thakur.