When rank lists turn into just sheets of paper

While those on the women CPO rank list are burning camphor on their palms, kneeling on salt crystals and protesting for jobs in front of the secretariat, information is coming out that temporary appointments are being made in various universities in the state in a devious manner. We reported yesterday that 4,000 temporary appointments were made in universities by making the PSC a puppet. This job scam is happening without informing the PSC about the vacancies while tens of thousands of people with higher degrees are waiting. The contracts of these people, who are appointed with a salary of Rs. 30,000, are being renewed every six months. Their only qualification is political affiliation. These temporary appointments through a devious route are being made when educated people are struggling to find work.

There are those who have been working in government jobs like this for six years. Temporary employees are appointed on contract and daily wage basis by the syndicate members directly. Although non-teaching appointments were left to the PSC in 2014, permanent appointments are being sabotaged without making special rules. Special rules have been made only for eight posts in universities with more than forty posts. Therefore, the PSC cannot make permanent appointments. Permanent posts are not being allowed in new universities now. Instead, the government is giving permission to appoint temporary staff. Temporary staff are being inserted in important duties such as conducting examinations, handling question papers, entering marks, and sending answer sheets for evaluation. There are 971 people in Kerala University alone who have received temporary appointments in this way. 704 employees in Calicut and 328 in MG have been appointed this way.

Except for those who came on deputation from other universities, all are working on a temporary basis in the Technical University. 213 posts were cancelled in the Agricultural University under the guise of implementing e-office. Five driver posts under PSC rank list were also cancelled. Temporary appointments have been made instead. These illegal appointments should be cancelled and appointments should be made from the PSC list if there is one or from the Employment Exchange if not. If vacancies in various departments are reported to the PSC in a timely manner and the PSC conducts the exams and interviews properly, more than half of the current problems will be solved.

The Chief Minister himself has said many times that there should be no failure in reporting vacancies. However, what is happening in this regard is a big lapse. Often, some people from service organizations that are aligned with the ruling parties are the ones obstructing all this. It has not been long since the fraud of those included in the police rank list with ranks came to light. It is time to correct the wrong approach that only those who are flag bearers in youth organizations are enough. It is not enough to just repeat the phrase time and time again that Kerala has the highest number of PSC appointments in India. The deception of the young generation in the name of temporary appointments should be stopped and appointments from the rank list should be made according to the vacancies.