The MVA government has been badly rocked by the recruitment scam involving several departments and officials. Police investigations point out that this could be a widespread scam with an organised network involved. First, the health department’s mega employment drive was compromised, then the MHADA examinations had to be put off and subsequent inquiries have led the probe to the education department’s teachers’ qualifying exam, and recruitment drives conducted by the land records department and industrial development corporation. More revelations are expected as the whistleblowers are showing courage in sharing information.

While undeserving candidates have used illegal means and the money at their disposal to get government jobs, meritorious aspirants are still struggling to succeed.  Acting against the culprits without any pressure and preventing the malpractice depend on the guts the investigators and the government show. To begin with, the government has mandated the services of only three players -- the Maharashtra Knowledge Corporation Limited, Institute of Banking Personnel and Tata Consultancy Services -- to execute the recruitment-related programme.  But, the government is expected to go above and beyond and set an example by handing out exemplary punishment to the state officials and others running an organised crime network, by accepting crores of rupees in bribes for recruiting a set of people who will further rot the system, leaving no space whatsoever for those with merit.