High Court’s blast, Raj Bhavan’s push: Kerala PSC Chief Dr MR Baiju to resign?

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: There is speculation that Kerala Public Service Commission (PSC) Chairman Dr. M.R. Baiju may resign without waiting for a decision if the President refers the former Governor’s recommendation to remove the PSC chairman and members to the Supreme Court for an inquiry. Such discussions are reportedly taking place within the higher echelons of the PSC itself. Even if they resign, the chairman and members will still have to face the investigation.

The High Court’s sharp criticism that the police investigating the case and the PSC were playing a “Bhai-Bhai” game, along with its question as to why arrests had not been made if there was non-cooperation with the investigation, has put the chairman and others under pressure. The PSC also believes that the President may refer the matter to the Supreme Court for an inquiry, taking into account the court’s remarks and the contents of the report submitted by the Governor. A majority of the commission’s members reportedly believe that the PSC has reached this stage because of the unilateral actions of Chairman Dr. M.R. Baiju.

The Governor moved towards stringent action after gaining a clear understanding of the irregularities and finding that the investigation was progressing slowly. Allegations that deals had taken place even in the selection of PSC members had also displeased the Governor.

In August, the Governor summoned IG S. Ajeetha Begum, head of the special Crime Branch team investigating the irregularities, DGP Ravada A. Chandrasekhar and PSC Secretary Saju George to Raj Bhavan to obtain a clear understanding of the situation. The Governor had asked the police chief how long it would take to complete the SIT investigation. The plan was to submit a recommendation to the President after receiving the final investigation report. However, with the SIT investigation dragging on and a change of Governor taking place in the meantime, the recommendation was submitted to the President a week before the Governor left office. The recommendation for an inquiry into the PSC irregularities was made under Article 317 of the Constitution.

According to available information, the Governor had also raised suspicions about the tenure of former chairman M.K. Sakeer, who held the post immediately before the current chairman, Dr. M.R. Baiju.

PSC Chairman seeks legal advice

PSC Chairman Dr. M.R. Baiju is seeking legal advice on challenging the Governor’s recommendation to remove the commission’s chairman and members. The matter is expected to be discussed at the commission meeting scheduled for today.

The chairman’s move is based on the argument that recommending the removal of the chairman and members, none of whom has so far been named as an accused in any case, amounts to a violation of the Constitution.

“PSC members cannot be removed by bypassing constitutional procedures. The Governor’s action is politically motivated.”

— Pinarayi Vijayan, former Chief Minister