Criticism from Supreme Court and High Court on same day; PSC should stop playing with lives of aspirants 

It is not uncommon for individuals to not keep their work and do things that are not in line with the truth. However, such an action cannot be imagined from a constitutional institution which is supposed to have a high tradition. The Kerala Public Service Commission (KPSC) had to face strong reprimands and criticism from the Supreme Court the other day for such a move. The High Court's warning not to play with the lives of candidates must still be ringing in the ears of the Kerala PSC authorities. PSC has faced similar reprimands from the judiciary in the past as well. It was only when the appointment of PSC members, like the universities, became politically motivated that the public began to doubt the impartiality and integrity of the institution. Mismanagement and delays in the conduct of examinations have become an inevitable part of the PSC administration.

The Supreme Court's reprimand came after the PSC made a suo motu change in the eligibility criteria as per the notification subject to external pressures. Fourteen years ago, when applications were called for the appointment of LD clerk to the Water Authority, the basic qualification was a degree and a certificate in data entry. Later, there was a demand that those with higher qualifications should also be considered. The High Court also gave permission for this. The water authority won a favourable verdict against the order that those who had obtained DCA should also be considered. However, the PSC was of the view that that qualification would not be taken into account. That was later corrected by the PSC and the rank list was published by including diploma holders as well. Those with certificate eligibility approached the court against this and got a favourable verdict.

The single bench ordered to publish the rank list excluding diploma holders. The Supreme Court had dismissed the petition filed by the diploma holders against this the other day. The court's observation that the fraud committed by the PSC in this case amounts to cheating the candidates should be a lesson for the PSC at least in the future. PSC is obliged to answer the question of in whose interests the PSC has included diploma-qualified candidates in the list, as the law and regulations do not allow for subsequent changes or additions to the qualifications mentioned in the first notification. Earlier, the PSC had approached the High Court and obtained a favourable verdict on the demand to exclude diploma holders. Later, the same diploma holders were added to the list because of other interests.

The integrity and transparency that an institution like PSC should maintain in job appointments have been blatantly violated here. The Supreme Court's accusation that the PSC has committed fraud on the issue has cast a shadow of doubt on the entire institution. The day the PSC faced criticism from the Supreme Court is the same day it had to stand in the dock in another case from the Kerala High Court. The controversy erupted when the PSC conducted its own investigation to clarify the caste of a candidate. The court made it clear that the PSC has no authority to conduct such an inquiry. If there is any doubt about caste, then a solution should be sought by informing the revenue authorities. The High Court's criticism came after the PSC itself took over the power it did not have.