PSC faces biggest crisis as President set to refer dismissal recommendation to Supreme Court

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala Public Service Commission (PSC) is facing the biggest crisis in its history. President Droupadi Murmu is expected to refer to the Supreme Court the former Governor's recommendation to remove the commission's chairman and members.

Former Governor R. V. Arlekar had recommended to the President that PSC Chairman Dr M. R. Baiju and all the commission members be removed from office. This is the first time such a recommendation has been made in the state's history. Arlekar took the step just six days before demitting office. The move is expected to intensify action against large-scale irregularities in the PSC.

The recommendation comes amid allegations of serious irregularities in examinations and appointments. Kerala Kaumudi had earlier reported that the chairman and members could be named as accused in the case and that the Governor would seek the President's intervention.

Baiju's term will end in November 2028. He had earlier served as a commission member from January 2017 to November 2022. The 21-member commission currently has 16 members, including the chairman.

The Governor had sought a report from the Director General of Police (DGP) on allegations that the evaluation process for a Planning Board recruitment had been manipulated to favour certain candidates.

Crime Branch IG S. Ajeetha Begum subsequently submitted a report. It stated that Additional Secretary R. Hari and Deputy Secretary P. Satheesh had initially refused to comply with a direction to evaluate questions carrying 53 marks that had been left out of the assessment. The report also pointed out that no action had been taken against the two officials.

The Governor took a tougher stand after irregularities were also detected in the evaluation of other examinations and in interviews. Yuva Morcha president Manu Prasad had earlier submitted a complaint to the Governor alleging irregularities in PSC recruitment.

President will decide

1. Although the Governor appoints the PSC chairman and members on the state government’s recommendation, only the President has the power to remove them.
2. The President will direct the Supreme Court to conduct an inquiry. The President can remove them only if the Court finds them guilty and recommends dismissal.
3. The chairman and members will get an opportunity to present their side before the Supreme Court. While the inquiry is on, the Governor can suspend the chairman or members.
4. The Governor’s position is that responsibility lies not only with the chairman or the members who conducted interviews, but with the commission as a whole. He has also told the President that the probe could be sabotaged if they continue in office.

Precedents: Haryana and Punjab

• Haryana: When corruption allegations surfaced against the state PSC chairman and members, the President ordered a Supreme Court inquiry on the Governor’s recommendation. The commission was then removed.
• Punjab: Then PSC Chairman Ravinder Pal Singh Sidhu was caught by the Vigilance Bureau for allegedly accepting a bribe. The Governor suspended him and the President ordered an inquiry. He was later removed.