Thiruvananthapuram, July 13 (IANS) The Kerala Public Service Commission (PSC) will cooperate with the Crime Branch’s Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing alleged irregularities in recruitment.
The PSC stated that in accordance with the law, documents sought would be handed over to the investigating agency.
The SIT, constituted by the State Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan, has adopted a calibrated approach, taking into account the PSC’s constitutional status and statutory safeguards.
Rather than immediately registering criminal cases, the team has begun verifying complaints, recording statements, examining recruitment records and questioning officials connected with the selection processes before deciding on further legal action.
The investigation gathered momentum on its very first day, with the SIT receiving more than a dozen complaints alleging irregularities in several major recruitment processes, including the Kerala Administrative Service (KAS), the appointment of the Planning Board Chief, the Deputy Superintendent of Police Special Recruitment examination, the Economics and Statistics Research Officer examination and recruitment to the post of Assistant Professor in Hotel Management.
The Government has since expanded the SIT to eight members, headed by IG Ajitha Begum under the overall supervision of ADGP H. Venkatesh.
A preliminary report is expected to be submitted to the State police chief by July 25.
The probe has also turned the spotlight on the PSC’s own vigilance mechanism, headed by a Superintendent of Police, amid questions over whether its internal safeguards were adequate to detect and prevent alleged irregularities.
Incidentally, the Kerala PSC has 16 members, including its chairman, all of whom were appointed during the previous government of Pinarayi Vijayan.
Five vacancies presently remain unfilled, with the V.D. Satheesan-led government yet to make fresh appointments.
During every tenure of successive governments in the state, each time a vacancy arises in the PSC Board, there is a mad scramble among the ruling parties and top political leaders to get their person posted to it.
–IANS
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