Former Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar's decision to recommend the removal of Kerala Public Service Commission (PSC) Chairman M R Baiju over alleged irregularities in the recruitment body, shortly before demitting office, has triggered a political storm in Thiruvananthapuram. According to Lok Bhavan sources cited by PTI, 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, and referred the matter to the Supreme Court. Officials said such a move had not been reported in the state's history.
Source: PTI via Careers360
On Tuesday, October 27, Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan said the Kerala government must not accept what he termed the former Governor's unconstitutional action, and announced that the Opposition would demand a discussion on the matter in the Assembly. In a statement reported by ANI, Vijayan said reports had emerged that, for the first time in Kerala's history, the former Governor recommended to the President that the PSC Chairman and members be removed from office.
Source: ANI via LatestLY
Vijayan cites Articles 163, 316 and 317
Vijayan alleged that the Governor had exercised excessive powers even before the government-ordered inquiry into the functioning of the PSC was completed, and noted that the Crime Branch investigation had not, so far, found any lapses on the part of the PSC Chairman or its members. He said Article 163 requires the Governor to act on the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers, that Article 316 provides for a six-year tenure, and that removal must follow Article 317, under which the President can take a decision only after the Supreme Court conducts an inquiry and submits its report. He also questioned the basis of the recommendation, pointing to media reports that the Chairman and members were yet to be questioned as part of the investigation.
Source: ANI via LatestLY
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, which was subsequently expanded to cover alleged irregularities in other PSC examinations. Lok Bhavan sources said the Yuva Morcha and the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) had submitted a complaint to Arlekar while he was Governor, following which he sought a report from the PSC's internal vigilance wing and examined the police investigation report. About a week before his transfer, he sent the letter to the President, the sources said. Arlekar has since been transferred to Tamil Nadu and Om Prakash Mathur has succeeded him in Kerala.
Source: PTI via Careers360
BJP welcomes move; UDF ministers divided
The BJP's youth wing, Yuva Morcha, welcomed the recommendation and demanded that the statutory body be dissolved. Its state president V. Manuprasad told PTI the organisation had first submitted the complaint to the Governor, and that a delegation was seeking an appointment with the President to raise concerns about the PSC and unemployment. Within the Congress-led UDF government, ministers were divided: Health Minister K. Muraleedharan backed the recommendation, saying the commission had deviated from its intended role, while Revenue Minister A. P. Anilkumar criticised the former Governor for recommending the removal without informing the state government and before the investigation report was submitted. Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said he could not comment without examining the matter, and added that the letter had been sent without informing the state government. CPI(M) state secretary M. V. Govindan accused the BJP of using the Governor's office to target the PSC, an allegation the BJP has rejected in its public statements welcoming the move. The allegations of irregularities against the PSC are yet to be established.
Source: PTI via Careers360