Thiruvananthapuram: In an unprecedented move, former Keralam governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar recommended to the President the removal of Kerala Public Service Commission (PSC) chairman M R Baiju and its members, days before handing over charge to his successor.Sources said the recommendation, a first in the state’s history, followed multiple complaints against the commission. Arlekar reportedly wrote to President Droupadi Murmu, citing allegations of irregularities and an investigation into the statutory body’s functioning. The PSC is responsible for recruitment to govt services in the state.Arlekar had held additional charge of Tamil Nadu while serving as Keralam governor before being transferred to the neighbouring state. He was relieved of his duties in Keralam on Oct 23, and Om Prakash Mathur has since succeeded him.The development came to light amid a crime branch investigation into alleged irregularities in a PSC appointment to the state planning board. The probe was later expanded to cover alleged irregularities in other PSC examinations. However, the investigation reportedly made little progress as the PSC chairman, members and officials did not appear before the probe team.On Saturday, Kerala High Court made strong observations about the commission and the govt, questioning the slow progress of the probe and asking whether the govt was engaged in a “bhai bhai” (brotherly) arrangement with opposing parties in the case. News of Arlekar’s recommendation emerged the following day.The recommendation marks a significant development in the row over the commission’s functioning, but does not automatically remove the chairman or members from office. The final decision rests with the President under the constitutional procedure for removal.Article 317 of the Constitution lays down the procedure for removing the chairman or a member of a state public service commission. Neither the governor nor the state govt can directly dismiss them. In cases of alleged misbehaviour, President must refer the matter to Supreme Court for an inquiry.If Supreme Court reports that the chairman or member ought to be removed on grounds of misbehaviour, the President may issue an order to that effect. The governor may suspend the person concerned after the matter is referred to Supreme Court, pending the President’s final order following receipt of the court’s report.Article 317 also allows the President to remove a PSC chairman or member without a Supreme Court reference on specified grounds. These include being adjudged insolvent, engaging in paid employment outside official duties during the term, and being considered by President unfit to continue in office due to infirmity of mind or body.Sources said Yuva Morcha and Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad had lodged complaints against the commission with Arlekar during his tenure as governor. He subsequently sought a report from the PSC’s internal vigilance wing and examined the police investigation report into the allegations before writing to the President, they said.
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