Thiruvananthapuram, July 3 (IANS) The Save University Campaign Committee (SUCC) on Friday demanded a comprehensive Vigilance probe into alleged irregularities in recruitment by the Kerala Public Service Commission (PSC) over the past decade, including corruption, question paper leaks, and the sources of income of PSC members.

The present PSC board consists of a Chairman and 15 other members, all of whom were appointed by the Pinarayi Vijayan government ( 2016-26).

In a memorandum submitted to the Governor, Chief Minister, and Home Minister, SUCC Chairman R.S. Sasikumar alleged that a series of controversies in recent years had seriously undermined the transparency and credibility of the constitutional body, which serves as the gateway to government employment for lakhs of job aspirants.

The committee claimed that in the recruitment of Extension Officers in the Fisheries Department, students affiliated with the Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS), particularly leaders of the Students’ Federation of India (SFI), received undue preference.

Of the 44 appointments made, 38 were reportedly KUFOS students.

The memorandum claimed that individuals associated with the university were involved in preparing the question paper as well as serving on the interview board, while highly qualified candidates from other universities were deliberately overlooked.

It also noted that although the Fisheries Director had recommended an investigation by an external agency, no action has been taken.

The memorandum further alleged irregularities in the recruitment process for the post of Chief Industrial and Infrastructure Officer in the State Planning Board, claiming answer scripts were not properly evaluated and that the rank list was hurriedly published to favour politically influential candidates.

Similar allegations were raised regarding recruitments to the posts of Assistant Information Officer, Deputy Superintendent of Police (Special Recruitment), Assistant Professor in Law Colleges, Kerala Administrative Service (KAS), and University Public Relations Officer.

The committee alleged that mandatory procedures were bypassed and examination sub-committees ignored.

The committee also questioned why the PSC had not conducted a comprehensive probe into how student leaders accused in the earlier University College violence linked to the Civil Police Officer (CPO) rank list controversy secured top positions in the rank list.

Sasikumar further alleged that a group comprising the PSC Chairman and certain members controlled the appointment of question paper setters, facilitating advance access to question papers and manipulation of written examinations.

He also claimed that the recent appointment of a relatively young woman leader of the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) as a PSC member was part of a planned move to influence the selection of question setters.

According to the memorandum, these developments have created a widespread public perception that the PSC has become heavily politicised, eroding the confidence of genuine job seekers and prompting talented youth to migrate abroad in search of secure employment.

The committee has urged the government to order a high-level Vigilance investigation by honest and competent officers into all the allegations at the earliest.

–IANS

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