Thiruvananthapuram: The Registrar of Cooperative Societies has issued regulations making police verification mandatory for appointments in cooperative institutions. The police must examine the candidate’s activities over the previous three years and submit a report. If the report is unfavourable, the appointment may be cancelled.

The Home Department had earlier instructed that police verification must be compulsory for appointments in aided educational institutions, public sector undertakings, welfare fund boards, development authorities, cooperative institutions and Devaswom Boards. Accordingly, amendments have now been made to cooperative recruitment.

The circular states that the appointing authority must obtain a police report confirming the candidate’s character and past history. Police verification must be obtained within six months in order to confirm the appointment.

Within two weeks of issuing the appointment from the rank list, the head of the cooperative institution must submit an application for police verification. The investigation must cover the candidate’s activities during the three years preceding the date of inquiry. If the candidate has lived in more than one district, reports must be obtained from the District Police Chiefs of all such districts.

If the candidate has lived outside the State for more than six months, reports must be obtained from the relevant Superintendents of Police. However, if the stay outside the State was solely for educational purposes, a police report will not be required; instead, a character certificate from the head of the educational institution must be produced.

If the police report is adverse, the employee must be given an opportunity to submit an explanation before the appointment is cancelled. The final decision must be taken only after considering this explanation, according to the circular.