THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Amid allegations of backdoor appointment fraud against the state government, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has returned the file to regularise 55 contract employees of SCOLE Kerala under the Public Education Department. The file was submitted by the education department for the approval of the recent cabinet meeting. The CM has also sought an explanation from minister C Raveendranath.

On September 25, Kerala Kaumudi had reported that the ground was being prepared for backdoor appointments in SCOLE Kerala. Following this, various organisations approached the High Court over the issue. An interim order was issued on October 14 that the matter should not be settled until a final order is made.

The move to regularise the employees of SCOLE Kerala was made under the guise of the government's decision to regularise those who have been in service for ten consecutive years on humanitarian grounds. Most of these employees on the list are those who entered into contract work during the term of the previous LDF government. They were ousted by the subsequent UDF government and taken back by this government. However, they lost continuous service.

The CM's office returned the file citing the court order and the fact that the employees had not been in service for ten consecutive years. On August 20, 2019, the government created 84 posts in SCOLE Kerala. Appointments were made to positions ranging from office assistants.