Kerala PSC members refuse Crime Branch summons, offer to appear at headquarters
Kerala PSC chairperson and members decline to appear at Crime Branch headquarters, seek questioning at Commission office; SIT recommends action against two officials.
The Kerala Public Service Commission (PSC) has decided against appearing at the Crime Branch headquarters for questioning in the ongoing investigation into alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations, opting instead to have its members questioned at the Commission's own office.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing discrepancies in examinations held for senior posts in the Kerala State Planning Board had issued notices to the PSC members. Investigators had planned to question the members first before summoning the chairperson.
The PSC members have rejected the notices, citing the rules and protocol that govern the constitutional body. They have maintained that the investigators may question them or record their statements at the PSC headquarters. The Commission is expected to formally communicate its position to the State government.
The investigation has entered a critical phase as it moves beyond an administrative lapse to examine whether there was a larger conspiracy involving deliberate interference in the recruitment process.
Separately, the SIT has recommended departmental action against two PSC officials for procedural violations in the conduct of the examinations. Action has been sought against an additional secretary and a former deputy secretary associated with the examination section.
The probe has uncovered serious lapses in the evaluation process. Ten questions carrying a total of 58 marks were left unevaluated, allowing undeserving candidates to secure top ranks in the respective examinations.
The Crime Branch is also likely to recommend the removal of candidates who were eventually appointed to top posts in the Kerala State Planning Board.