The Kerala government is contemplating transferring the investigation of alleged irregularities in a Public Service Commission (PSC) recruitment examination to the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB). Concerns have arisen over the PSC’s handling of the issue, leading to calls for a more independent inquiry. Critics have raised doubts about the fairness of the internal investigation conducted by the PSC, citing concerns about its credibility.
Amid mounting criticism, the Home Department is seeking legal advice on the feasibility of a Vigilance probe into the PSC’s operations, being a constitutional body. Opposition voices and stakeholders have expressed apprehensions that the current inquiry, overseen by an official directly reporting to the PSC Chairman, may compromise the integrity of the investigation.
The controversy revolves around a recruitment examination for senior posts in the State Planning Board, where evaluators allegedly overlooked assessing answers to ten questions in candidates’ answer scripts. Despite this error, the PSC proceeded to release rank lists for two out of three posts and appointed two individuals. The matter came to light following a complaint lodged with the Kerala Administrative Tribunal, prompting the PSC to acknowledge evaluation mistakes and announce a re-evaluation of all answer scripts.
The government is actively considering transferring the investigation to the Vigilance Department to ensure a more impartial inquiry. The controversy has also prompted scrutiny of recruitment processes for various other government positions, with demands for fair investigations into alleged irregularities across public sector recruitments in the state.
