Misuse of deputation and political favoritism threaten Lokayukta's integrity

The Public Service Commission (PSC) is entrusted with the critical responsibility of making permanent appointments to government departments. However, this role is often undermined by the government itself through a growing trend of contractual and temporary appointments. This practice delays the reporting of vacancies to the PSC, ultimately denying opportunities to candidates who have cleared the PSC examinations and secured places on the rank list.

For many young men and women in Kerala, a secure government job is a cherished dream, achieved only after years of academic effort and rigorous preparation for PSC exams. Yet, government interference in the recruitment process puts this dream at risk. Rank lists expire without appointments being made, leaving qualified candidates in limbo.

Another concerning practice is the misuse of deputation. While deputation is meant to be a temporary arrangement allowing employees to serve in another department for a fixed term, political influence is often leveraged to convert these temporary placements into permanent positions. This circumvents the merit-based system and blocks opportunities for deserving candidates on the rank list.

The Lokayukta offers a prime example of this issue. Many individuals, drawn from various departments such as law, revenue and college education, have joined the Lokayukta on deputation, often through political connections. These positions, particularly attractive due to their base in Thiruvananthapuram and freedom from transfers, have become a springboard for permanent appointments.

The PSC has commendably opposed a proposed special rule aimed at regularizing all employees on deputation in the Lokayukta without assessing their efficiency or integrity. Such blanket regularizations set a dangerous precedent, not only denying opportunities to new entrants but also compromising the impartiality of judicial services.

The Lokayukta currently has 91 deputation appointments across key posts, including Court Officers, Section Officers, Senior Grade Assistants, ADGP, SP and DySPs in the investigation agency. Only 18 permanent employees serve the institution. Recent attempts to create more posts through special rules, citing the 1,800 positions in the Karnataka Lokayukta, further highlight the need for careful scrutiny. Each state's needs should be assessed based on its caseload rather than arbitrary comparisons.

Adding to the Lokayukta’s challenges is the current lack of a division bench comprising the Lokayukta and Upalokayukta, which has stalled trials against politicians, public representatives and officials. Instead of prioritizing political convenience, the government must focus on filling the two vacancies for Supreme Court judges in the Lokayukta and resuming trials promptly.

The government must respect the sanctity of the PSC and ensure that all appointments adhere to merit-based principles. Temporary and deputation appointments should remain just that—temporary. Moreover, policies that enable political favoritism and undermine transparency must be resisted.

The impartial functioning of judicial services like the Lokayukta is crucial for upholding justice and accountability in governance. By prioritizing fairness and meritocracy, Kerala can set an example for the rest of the nation, ensuring that dreams of a government job are not lost to systemic inefficiencies or political interference.