Addressing a press conference in Kannur, Govindan alleged that former Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar had acted against the constitutional safeguards protecting the recruitment body by recommending the dismissal of chairman M R Baiju and commission members to President Droupadi Murmu.
He said the BJP was attempting to destabilise a constitutional institution that had played a significant role in providing government employment in Kerala. The recommendation, he argued, represented political interference rather than a legitimate exercise of constitutional authority.
Govindan demanded that Chief Minister V D Satheesan and the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) clarify whether they supported the former Governor’s action. He accused the government of adopting a position favourable to Arlekar despite the constitutional questions surrounding his intervention.
The CPM leader maintained that appointments to the PSC were governed by Article 316 of the Constitution, which provides safeguards concerning the tenure of the chairman and members. Their removal, he said, could not be undertaken through an arbitrary political decision.
Referring to Article 317, Govindan argued that allegations of misconduct against commission members must undergo judicial scrutiny before removal proceedings could be completed. He said the Supreme Court had a constitutionally prescribed role in determining whether allegations warranted dismissal.
Under Article 317, the President can remove a PSC chairman or member for misbehaviour following an inquiry by the Supreme Court and its recommendation for removal. The provision also specifies separate grounds for presidential removal, including insolvency and certain disqualifying circumstances.
Govindan questioned the justification for recommending the dismissal of the commission’s entire leadership when no Supreme Court inquiry had established misconduct by its chairman or members.
He said Kerala’s PSC had distinguished itself through the scale of government recruitment and argued that attempts to weaken the institution would affect the independence of public service appointments.
The controversy follows disclosures that Arlekar had written to the President shortly before relinquishing his position as Kerala Governor. His communication sought action against Baiju and other commission members following complaints concerning alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations and appointments.
The recommendation has triggered a political confrontation between the CPM-led Left Democratic Front and the UDF government, with opposition leaders questioning both the constitutional basis and the political circumstances of the intervention.
However, the allegations concerning PSC recruitment are the subject of an ongoing Crime Branch investigation. Complaints involving examination procedures and appointments have prompted scrutiny of the commission’s functioning, although allegations against individual officials remain subject to investigation and legal determination.
The inquiry includes suspected irregularities connected with recruitment to the State Planning Board. Investigators have also examined complaints involving other recruitment examinations, raising questions about examination integrity and administrative oversight.
Govindan’s criticism focused on the distinction between investigating alleged wrongdoing and removing constitutionally appointed officials. He maintained that complaints could not justify disregarding the safeguards established for members of an independent recruitment institution.
His remarks followed criticism from former Chief Minister and Opposition Leader Pinarayi Vijayan, who also challenged the legality of Arlekar’s recommendation and accused the former Governor of exceeding constitutional limits.
Vijayan argued that the commission’s members were appointed for fixed terms and could not be displaced merely because a different political administration had assumed office.
LDF convener T P Ramakrishnan separately accused the state government of failing to protect the PSC’s institutional independence.
(The article ‘Govindan accuses BJP of using Governor’ appeared first on Free Press Journal.)
Follow Arabian Post
Select Arabian Post as your preferred source on Google and MSN News for trusted business news and Arab politics and updates.
