Kerala High Court questions PSC recruitment probe progress

The Kerala High Court has raised concerns regarding the progress of a Crime Branch investigation into alleged irregularities during a Kerala Public Service Commission (PSC) examination. The probe concerns the recruitment of a Chief for the Industry and Infrastructure Division of the State Planning Board, following an exam conducted in July 2023.

The investigation was triggered after a candidate discovered that 10 questions, totaling 58 marks, had not been evaluated in several answer scripts. This discrepancy led to a shift in rankings; Shyam Krishnan, originally ranked third, moved to first place following revaluation, while the original top candidate, Arun J. Prathap, fell to fifth.

The PSC has petitioned the court to quash the investigation, arguing that the discrepancies were merely clerical errors and that the probe lacks authorization under existing rules. However, the state government informed the court that the PSC is not cooperating with the ongoing investigation. The court noted that if the PSC and the government appear too closely aligned, it may fuel public suspicion regarding the integrity of the process. The case is scheduled for further consideration on October 27.