The Bombay HC affirmed students’ right to protest against suspected wrongdoing in the MPSC exams
MUMBAI: The Bombay high court on Wednesday said students protesting against alleged malpractices in Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) examinations were “not anti-social elements” and stressed that the state government must ensure recruitment exams are conducted fairly and without irregularities. The court also said aggrieved students have the right to protest, while urging them to return to their studies as it examined their grievances. Their careers will be spoilt,” Chief Justice Tripathi said, while also asking the protesters to ensure that no hardship was caused to the peace-loving city and its residents. One of the organisers told the court that they would withdraw their agitation, while the other two said they were willing to relocate their protest to any place provided by the Pune authorities.
The court was hearing a petition filed by Pune residents against the ongoing agitation in the city by students and others over alleged malpractices in MPSC examinations and other examination-related controversies. “These children are innocent, but now they are on the roads. The petition, filed by Pune residents Amit Supekar and Sourabh Virkar, named the state government as well as protest organisers Pramod Patil, Nitin Andhale and Chetan Wagaj as respondents.