Speaking after a Cabinet meeting in Thiruvananthapuram, Satheesan questioned the constitutional propriety of Arlekar’s communication to President Droupadi Murmu and insisted that the controversy must not divert attention from the Crime Branch investigation into alleged recruitment irregularities.
Satheesan said a Governor was expected to convey the considered position of the elected government rather than independently recommend action against the leadership of a constitutional recruitment body. He maintained that his administration had neither been consulted nor informed before the recommendation was dispatched.
“The Governor cannot express such views on his own. Under the Constitution, the Governor should communicate the considered opinion of the government,” Satheesan said.
Arlekar, who has since moved to Tamil Nadu as Governor, wrote to the President before leaving Keralam, seeking the removal of Baiju and other commission members. His intervention followed complaints alleging serious irregularities in examinations and appointments overseen by the PSC.
The Chief Minister drew a distinction between the procedure adopted by the former Governor and the allegations being examined by investigators. He said questions surrounding Arlekar’s recommendation could not provide protection to officials found responsible for misconduct in recruitment.
Satheesan accused the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front Opposition of concentrating on the Governor’s action to deflect scrutiny from the commission. The allegation was political, and the investigation has yet to establish responsibility for the suspected irregularities.
The Chief Minister described the preliminary material emerging from the Crime Branch inquiry as disturbing. He alleged that individuals connected to influential figures, including relatives and people with political links, had benefited from appointments while qualified candidates who underwent examinations and training were disadvantaged.
Those allegations remain subject to investigation. Satheesan said the government would determine its response under the law after receiving the investigation report, rather than announce action against individuals before the inquiry was completed.
The investigation initially centred on examinations for posts associated with the State Planning Board. Questions about evaluation procedures and the integrity of selections have subsequently prompted scrutiny of other examinations conducted by the PSC.
Satheesan said further complaints were being received from candidates and others who believed that recruitment processes had been compromised. Some complainants who had previously hesitated to approach the authorities were now coming forward, he said, as confidence in the inquiry increased.
He said these additional complaints were being forwarded to the Crime Branch special investigation team. Allegations relating to different examinations would be examined rather than treated as evidence that wrongdoing had occurred across the commission’s entire recruitment system.
The Chief Minister also indicated that investigators would consider questions surrounding Baiju’s appointment and claims about the speed with which vigilance clearance had been issued. He did not declare those claims substantiated or identify the chairman as an accused person.
Asked about possible political interference and whether Baiju might face criminal charges, Satheesan declined to speculate. He said investigators should be permitted to complete their work and that decisions would follow the evidence gathered.
The constitutional dispute concerns the distinction between appointing and removing members of a state public service commission. Article 317 provides that the President may remove a chairman or member for misbehaviour after a Supreme Court inquiry and a report supporting removal. The recommendation itself does not terminate anyone’s tenure.
(The article ‘Govt opposes Arlekar’s PSC action’ appeared first on Free Press Journal.)
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