MPSC chairman goes on leave amid Bhosale inquiry; only the President can remove him

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The news

Mumbai. Maharashtra Public Service Commission chairman Vivek Bhimanwar went on leave on October 12, citing his “moral conscience” and denying any pressure, because a committee will now examine the Commission’s functioning, the Indian Express reports. Aspirants had protested in Pune for 11 days over an alleged leak in the March 22, 2026 drug inspector exam for 154 posts; recruitment was cancelled in August and arrests reached 12 on Monday. Bhimanwar says the leak predated his tenure. Justice Dilip Bhosale, a former Bombay High Court judge and former Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court, chairs the inquiry, due in two months. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said neither he nor the Cabinet can remove the chairman: Article 317 gives that power to the President.

Prelims nuggets

Article 316: State PSC members are appointed by the Governor for six years or until age 62, whichever is earlier.
Article 317(1): removal for misbehaviour only by the President after a Supreme Court inquiry; the Governor may suspend a State PSC member meanwhile.
Article 319: a State PSC chairman may later join the UPSC or head another State PSC, but takes no other government job.