Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 24 Former Keralam Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar’s decision to recommend the removal of state PSC Chairman M R Baiju over alleged irregularities in the recruitment body, shortly before demitting office, triggered a political storm here on Sunday.
Officials said such a move had not been reported in the state’s history.
According to Lok Bhavan sources, Arlekar sent a letter to President Droupadi Murmu recommending Baiju’s removal, citing allegations of irregularities and an investigation into the functioning of the statutory body.
The CPI (M)-led opposition LDF strongly opposed the former governor’s move, calling it unconstitutional, while the BJP welcomed it.
Ministers in the Congress-led UDF government, which has criticised the Kerala Public Service Commission’s functioning, were divided over Arlekar’s move, with K Muraleedharan backing the recommendation and A P Anilkumar opposing it.
Arlekar was until recently the governor of Keralam and was also handling additional responsibility of Tamil Nadu before being transferred to the neighbouring state.
Om Prakash Mathur has since succeeded Arlekar.
The State 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 subsequently 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 while he was serving as governor.
Following the complaint, he sought a report from the PSC’s internal vigilance wing on the allegations.
Arlekar examined the police investigation report into the allegations against the commission, the sources said.
About a week before his transfer, he sent a letter to the President detailing the reasons for recommending the removal of the PSC chairman, they said.
He referred the matter to the Supreme Court, the sources added.
The BJP’s youth wing, Yuva Morcha, welcomed the recommendation to remove Baiju and demanded that the statutory body be dissolved.
Yuva Morcha state president V Manuprasad said the organisation had first submitted a complaint to the governor regarding alleged irregularities in the PSC’s functioning, following which Arlekar sought reports and recommended Baiju’s removal to President Murmu.
“We, along with senior BJP leaders, are looking for an appointment with the President. Once it is granted, a delegation from Keralam, including Yuva Morcha representatives, will raise our concerns about the PSC and unemployment in the state,” he told PTI.
Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan alleged that Lok Bhavan had acted unconstitutionally by recommending the removal of the PSC chairman and the dissolution of the commission. He demanded that the state government clarify its stand on the issue.
In a statement, the CPI(M) veteran termed the governor’s move illegal and unconstitutional and an abuse of power, arguing that the removal of the PSC chairman and members could be undertaken only by following the procedure prescribed under Article 317 of the Constitution.
He alleged that the outgoing governor’s action was a continuation of what he described as illegal interventions in the state’s affairs.
Citing Article 163 of the Constitution, Vijayan said the governor was required to act on the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers and had no independent authority in the matter.
The former Chief Minister said there was no precedent in Keralam for removing the PSC chairman and members whenever a government changed.
Health Minister K Muraleedharan backed the former governor’s recommendation to remove the PSC chairman. He said that despite being an independent body the commission had deviated from its intended role and become an organisation plagued by “corruption”.
Welcoming the governor’s move, BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar said irregularities in the PSC had adversely affected candidates on rank lists.
He said the BJP and its youth wing, Yuva Morcha, had stood firmly with the aspirants when they took to the streets in protest.
Despite chief minister V D Satheesan’s assurance that the issues in the PSC would be examined, the UDF government had taken no steps to address the concerns of protesting youth over the past 150 days, Chandrasekhar alleged, demanding that the government clarify what action it had initiated.
On the former governor’s recommendation, Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said he could not comment without examining the matter.
He added that the letter had been sent without informing the state government.
Revenue Minister A P Anilkumar criticised the former governor for recommending the chairman’s removal without informing the state government.
In a Facebook post, Anilkumar said the recommendation to the President was a matter of serious concern, particularly as it had been made shortly before Arlekar demitted office and before the investigation report had been submitted.
CPI (M) state secretary M V Govindan accused the BJP of using the governor’s office to undermine the independence of the Keralam PSC.
He alleged that the recommendation to remove its chairman and members was politically motivated.
Govindan asked whether the UDF government supported the recommendation or would oppose it, and demanded that the CM clarify the government’s stand.
Agriculture Minister T Siddique said the state government would ensure accountability for alleged irregularities in the PSC and bring those responsible to justice.
Siddique said the UDF government had taken the allegations seriously and ordered a Crime Branch investigation into the recruitment body’s functioning.
(PTI News)
