The Maharashtra government terminated Mahendra Uttamrao Harpalkar’s deputation as MPSC secretary on Oct 1, citing Governor‑issued administrative reasons and alleged exam irregularities.
The General Administration Department confirmed that Harpalkar had been on deputation for two years, and the order directed him to hand over the post immediately to a successor with the commission’s consent.
Exam aspirants, enraged by reports that question papers were leaked and manipulated, staged protests demanding accountability and a thorough review of the commission’s processes.
In response, the state announced a transfer of the secretary’s position, a judicial inquiry into the MPSC’s functioning, and that a separate order on his new posting would follow.
The move signals the state’s intent to restore public trust in its civil service examinations, while the pending inquiry will determine whether systemic reforms are required to safeguard the integrity of future assessments.