CET Cell OSD and Assistant Legal Officer Recruitment 2026

MAH CET Cell OSD and Assistant Legal Officer Recruitment 2026: Overview

State Common Entrance Test Cell, Maharashtra is hiring an Officer on Special Duty (OSD) and an Assistant Legal Officer on contract for its Mumbai office. The Cell handles Common Entrance Tests (CET) and the Centralised Admission Process (CAP) for professional courses, bringing together examination, admission and legal work. A key condition is that you must live in Mumbai because the work can continue late into the night and needs regular attendance the next morning.

Posts and Disciplines

• Officer on Special Duty: this role supports the administrative side of professional-course entrance tests and admissions, including sensitive proposals, public complaints and coordination with directorates.
• Assistant Legal Officer: this role supports the Cell's legal work, including court cases, affidavits, appeals and advice to the office.

Post-wise Duties

Officer on Special Duty

You will examine sensitive files and proposals, prepare them for senior approval and help resolve complaints from citizens. You will also study admission rules and government decisions, prepare proposals for changes when needed, and follow up with the relevant directorate.

The OSD role also supports work on unexpected issues affecting colleges and students. You will discuss these matters with the Commissioner and help prepare office notes or supporting material for court-related cases when needed.

Assistant Legal Officer

You will help the office handle court cases and legal questions, follow up on pending matters and prepare affidavits with the relevant officers. Drafts need the appropriate approval before they go to court, and you will attend hearings and track the next hearing dates.

Where a decision goes against the Cell, you will study the judgment and help with appeal-related work when an appeal is approved. You will also keep the relevant officers informed and support the Legal Officer with the office's ongoing legal work.

Service Conditions and Caveats

• Initial tenure: both engagements are limited to 11 months at the start and are temporary contractual appointments.
• Employment status: this contract does not give you the status of a government employee.
• Working pattern: the Cell describes admissions and examination work as continuous and highly sensitive. You may need to work late and still report on time the next morning.
• Confidentiality: court matters reaching the office must be handled with strict confidentiality.
• Ending the contract: the authority can end an engagement for unsatisfactory work with one month's notice. You must also give at least one month's written notice if you want to leave, and resignation remains subject to the notice's approval conditions.
• Private legal work: the Assistant Legal Officer needs written permission for outside legal practice. Continuing after permission is refused can lead to cancellation and legal action if it disrupts government work or causes financial loss.
• Recruitment discretion: the authority may suspend, postpone or cancel the recruitment. Interview travel costs are not reimbursed.

Application Submission Notes

Email your application in the prescribed format, with the accompanying statement, to est.cetcell@gmail.com. The notice provides a separate form for each role, so use the one matching your chosen post.

• Review sensitive admission-related files and proposals for senior approval as OSD.
• Resolve public complaints through coordination with the administrative team as OSD.
• Study admission rules and prepare proposals for changes as OSD.
• Coordinate with directorates on examination and admission matters as OSD.
• Draft affidavits and legal replies with the relevant officers as Assistant Legal Officer.
• Attend court hearings and track pending cases as Assistant Legal Officer.
• Review judgments and prepare approved appeals as Assistant Legal Officer.
• Protect confidential court and admission records in both roles.