Kerala Planning Board recruitment row: Whistleblower tops revised PSC rank list, Left activist slips to fifth

A recruitment controversy in Kerala has taken a fresh turn, with the Kerala Public Service Commission (PSC) revising the rank list for the post of Chief in the State Planning Board after finding that several answers in the selection examination had not been evaluated. The revision has placed whistleblower candidate Shyam Krishnan at the top, 15 months after another candidate joined the board with the first rank in the original list.

Krishnan, who was initially ranked third, moved to first place after a fresh evaluation restored marks for previously unassessed answers. Arun J Prathap, who originally topped the list and joined the board 15 months ago, has now dropped to fifth.

The PSC will write to the state government seeking Prathap's dismissal to facilitate Mr Krishnan's appointment. The move could lead to a legal battle.

Unassessed answers lead to revised ranking

The controversy emerged after candidates discovered that 10 questions carrying a total of 58 marks had not been evaluated in the examination for the Industry and Infrastructure division.

After the initial rank list was published, Krishnan inspected his answer script and sought a review. His score increased from 39 to 59.5 marks following re-evaluation, changing his position in the rankings.

The PSC initially attributed the omission to a technical glitch during digital evaluation. However, the Kerala High Court questioned the explanation, observing that leaving questions unassessed violated recruitment laws.

Crime Branch probe and political fallout

The United Democratic Front (UDF) government ordered a Crime Branch investigation into a suspected criminal conspiracy during the previous Left Democratic Front (LDF) administration.

Investigators subsequently searched the PSC headquarters and named two officials in their report.

The controversy has renewed concerns among job seekers about possible political favouritism in public recruitment and the fairness of the selection process.

Candidate holds recruitment body responsible

Krishnan has expressed hope that he will secure the appointment following the revision. He has also said he bears no ill will towards Prathap, holding the examination authority responsible for the administrative failure.

The next step rests with the UDF-led state government, which will have to consider the PSC's request concerning Prathap's removal and Krishnan's appointment. The proposed action could face legal challenges.