The Bombay High Court on Wednesday, 7 October 2026, directed the Maharashtra government to restore the trust of students who had staged protests over the recruitment process of the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) and to encourage them to resume their studies. A Division Bench of Chief Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi and Justice Advait Sethna heard a petition that highlighted the inconvenience caused to citizens in Pune by road blockages.
The students had demanded changes to the MPSC examination and recruitment procedures, alleging that exams were not conducted according to established norms and that exam papers were leaked. In response, the state said it had accepted the demand to set the examination fee at ₹1,100 and to hold examinations in person. It also sent a representation to the Governor requesting the resignation of the MPSC Chairperson.
The court asked the state to provide written details on the recruitment process and on the vacancies in various departments, and to file an affidavit. It also instructed students to return to classes and, if they wished to protest, to seek permission and to conduct demonstrations away from public roads so as not to inconvenience citizens.
The bench noted that vacancies in government jobs ran into the thousands and that student protests were a legitimate expression of grievance. It stressed that students were not opposed to the nation and that their careers should not be adversely affected. The court also acknowledged that the police had shown restraint and urged the state to consider the concerns of parents while maintaining peace in Pune, a major educational hub.
