The Kerala Cabinet, in a recent decision, has escalated the investigation into the Public Service Commission (PSC) recruitment controversy by involving the Crime Branch. This move broadens the inquiry to encompass not only the revealed evaluation discrepancies but also questionable appointments, including those to the Kerala Administrative Service (KAS) and the State Planning Board. Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan disclosed that the probe would scrutinize the entire chain of events leading to the alleged irregularities, focusing on potential manipulations in the recruitment process.
The investigation will also delve into the lack of transparency surrounding the interview procedures. Additionally, the Cabinet addressed the Wayanad landslide tragedy, with concerns heightened by a subsequent landslip in the region. A comprehensive techno-legal examination will be conducted to investigate the circumstances that led to the disaster, including the adherence to environmental clearance conditions and guidelines issued by the Centre for activities in the area.
Furthermore, the Cabinet evaluated the government’s proposed 100-day action plan and decided to establish a Programme Coordination Office within the Chief Minister’s Office to oversee its execution. Chief Minister Satheesan emphasized that the progress of this program would be publicly accessible through an Open Court digital platform to ensure accountability and transparency. Responding to criticism regarding his retention of the Finance, Ports, and Law portfolios, CM Satheesan refuted claims of concentrating key departments, highlighting the contrast with the previous Chief Minister’s extensive portfolio holdings.
In a comparison with his predecessor, CM Satheesan defended his decision, stating that he was initially hesitant to retain the Finance portfolio and had only accepted the responsibility at the insistence of his colleagues. He clarified that his choice to retain the Ports portfolio was driven by his longstanding commitment to developing Kerala’s ports, a key policy objective he intends to pursue during his tenure.
