Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 24 In a “rare” move, former Keralam Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar has recommended the removal of KPSC Chairman M R Baiju, following complaints of irregularities against the recruitment body, when he held the gubernatorial post before being transferred to Tamil Nadu, sources said on Sunday.
Arlekar was till recently the governor of Keralam and handling additional responsibility of Tamil Nadu as well, before he was transferred to the neighbouring state. Om Prakash Mathur has since succeeded Arlekar.
According to Lok Bhavan sources, Arlekar sent a letter to President Droupadi Murmu recommending the removal of Baiju, citing allegations of irregularities and an investigation into the statutory body’s functioning.
Officials said that such a move had not been reported in the state’s history.
The Kerala PSC is responsible for recruitment to government services in the state.
The development comes amid a Crime Branch investigation into alleged irregularities in the PSC examination for the post of chief of the State Planning Board.
The probe was later expanded to cover alleged irregularities in other PSC examinations as well.
Lok Bhavan sources said Yuva Morcha and the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) had submitted a complaint to Arlekar when he was serving as governor.
Following the complaint, he sought a report from the PSC’s internal vigilance wing on the allegations.
Arlekar also examined the police investigation report into the allegations against the commission, the sources said.
About a week before being transferred, he sent the letter to the President detailing the reasons for recommending the removal of the PSC chairman, they said.
He also referred the matter to the Supreme Court, sources added.
Arlekar was relieved of his duties as Keralam governor on October 23 after being transferred to Tamil Nadu.
PSC members are appointed for a six-year term.
The Kerala High Court had recently criticised the state government over what it described as a lacklustre investigation into the PSC case.
(PTI News)
