'Shocking' PSC lapses found, says Kerala CM

Kerala will act against irregularities uncovered in the state Public Service Commission once a Crime Branch probe is complete, Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan said Thursday, August 13, describing the findings so far as "shocking."

The state government has ordered the Crime Branch to investigate examinations conducted by the PSC and appointments made to government services under the previous CPI(M)-led LDF administration, Satheesan told a press conference here.

He said the probe was based on reports of widespread irregularities at the commission but declined to give details while it remained ongoing, saying it would not be appropriate to comment before the investigation report is submitted.

Asked about reports that the official vehicle assigned to the PSC chairman had gone two months without its travel log being maintained, Satheesan said the matter could be looked into.

Satheesan also addressed the continuing protest by Lower Primary School Teacher (LPST) candidates, saying the PSC had drawn up a rank list of about 15,000 candidates against only 500 available vacancies.

He said those 500 vacancies had emerged following a "division fall" a reorganization that left 1,131 existing teachers at risk of losing their jobs and questioned the rationale for holding an exam for posts that did not effectively exist.

The chief minister said the government had asked protesting candidates for a two-month window to study the issue and had held several rounds of talks with them, including three meetings involving the education minister and one in his own chamber.

He said an additional private secretary to the education minister had personally delivered a letter to the protest site at his request, and that the government held five to six rounds of discussions with the protesters in total.

"No government in Kerala has done this," Satheesan said, adding that the administration was not opposing the protest but had sought time to examine the matter.

On irregularities in the procurement and supply of ghee to the Sabarimala temple, run by the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), Satheesan said the investigation was proceeding under the direct supervision of the Kerala High Court, with officials selected by the court itself and no interference from the state government. He said he had held detailed discussions on the matter with the Devaswom minister.

He alleged that serious irregularities, including the theft of a door frame and of ghee meant for the deity, had occurred at the temple under the previous LDF government, and claimed the appointments involved were politically motivated with backing from the then political leadership. He described it as theft at one of Kerala's most sacred and ancient temples, on a scale unprecedented in the state's history.

Satheesan said the government was also reviewing a restructuring of the MEDISEP health insurance scheme for state employees following widespread complaints.