Thiruvananthapuram, July 11 (IANS) The Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted to probe alleged irregularities in recruitment by the Kerala Public Service Commission (PSC) has begun its work with a cautious and structured approach, mindful of the constitutional status and statutory safeguards enjoyed by the Commission.

The decision to constitute the SIT was taken at Wednesday’s Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan.

Following its formation, the team received more than a dozen complaints in no time on the very first day, alleging irregularities in several high-profile recruitment processes, including the Kerala Administrative Service (KAS), the Planning Board Chief appointment, the DySP Special Recruitment examination, the Economics and Statistics Research Officer examination and recruitment to the post of Assistant Professor in Hotel Management.

The probe team has to follow a carefully structured sequence to balance the statutory powers of the investigating agency with the constitutional status of the PSC.

Rather than immediately initiating criminal proceedings, the SIT will first verify complaints, record statements from complainants, scrutinise recruitment records, and question officials linked to the selection processes before deciding on further legal action.

Reflecting the widening scope of the probe, the State Government has expanded the SIT to eight members. The team is headed by IG Ajitha Begum under the overall supervision of ADGP H. Venkatesh and includes an SP, a DySP, an Inspector and other officers.

Investigators will also examine complaints alleging irregularities may have occurred in interviews and recruitment processes conducted in previous years for similar posts.

A preliminary report is expected to be submitted to the Director General of Police by July 25, after which a decision will be taken on whether criminal cases need to be formally registered and a comprehensive investigation launched.

The investigation has also brought renewed focus on the PSC’s own security apparatus.

The Commission has a full-fledged internal investigation wing headed by a Superintendent of Police and supported by a team of police personnel tasked with safeguarding the integrity of examinations and recruitment processes.

The emergence of allegations despite this institutional mechanism has raised questions in official circles over whether existing internal checks were adequate and whether warning signals, if any, were detected and acted upon in time.

Incidentally, the Kerala PSC has 16 members, including its chairman, 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.

–IANS

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