Thiruvananthapuram, July 6 (IANS) The Kerala Public Service Commission (PSC) on Monday withdrew its controversial decision to have the Examination Controller investigate the alleged recruitment scam in appointments to the State Planning Board and instead handed the probe to its Superintendent of Police, Internal Vigilance, following sharp opposition from within the Commission itself.

The reversal came after several PSC members questioned Chairman Dr M.R. Baiju’s decision to entrust the inquiry to the Examination Controller despite an earlier Commission resolution assigning the investigation to the Internal Vigilance wing.

Critics within the Commission argued that the move had the effect of diluting the inquiry, triggering a confrontation at the Board meeting where the Chairman reportedly came under intense pressure from a section of members.

The development has significantly raised the political stakes, with Wednesday’s Cabinet meeting assuming added importance.

Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan is understood to have been inundated with complaints from multiple quarters over the functioning of the PSC during the past decade, particularly the period when the previous Pinarayi Vijayan government was in office until 2026.

The Planning Board recruitment controversy centres on a common examination conducted for Chief-level posts in three divisions.

Ten questions were allegedly left unevaluated during the assessment.

Despite this, rank lists were published for two posts and appointments made, including that of a candidate associated with a Left-backed organisation who secured the first rank.

Although the PSC subsequently admitted that an evaluation error had occurred and cancelled one of the rank lists after the controversy surfaced, it has not initiated a re-evaluation of answer scripts or revised the rankings.

The episode has intensified demands for an independent investigation.

While the PSC’s SP, Internal Vigilance, has now been entrusted with the inquiry, pressure is mounting on the Satheesan government to order a full-fledged investigation by the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB).

The controversy has also revived scrutiny of the composition of the PSC.

Under existing norms, the Chairman and members are appointed by the government, with each serving until the age of 62 or for six years, whichever is earlier.

The present Commission, comprising the Chairman and 15 members, was appointed during the previous LDF government.

Five vacancies currently exist in the Commission, and the Satheesan government is now weighing its options on fresh appointments, decisions that are expected to shape both the credibility and future functioning of the constitutional body.

–IANS

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