Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Information and Public Relations Minister OJ Janeesh on Monday said the UDF government would review appointments made by the Kerala Public Service Commission (PSC) over the past 10 years after allegations of irregularities surfaced in the recruitment of Assistant Information Officers.

The announcement comes in the wake of Mathrubhumi News' extensive reporting on the alleged irregularities in the recruitment process, including claims that eligibility records were altered and work-experience certificates were improperly issued to benefit certain candidates.

Calling the allegations a serious matter, Janeesh said the government would conduct a detailed inquiry into appointments made during the previous LDF government's tenure and take appropriate action based on its findings.

His remarks come after the Kerala Administrative Tribunal stayed the Assistant Information Officer recruitment process following allegations that eligibility records were manipulated and work-experience certificates were improperly issued to benefit certain candidates.

Minister alleges irregularities in PRD recruitment

Janeesh alleged that employees engaged under the Public Relations Department's (PRD) Prism project, who were neither permanent employees nor full-time media professionals, had been illegally issued experience certificates to make them eligible for recruitment.

The post of Assistant Information Officer requires candidates to have two years' experience in journalism. Allegations claim that around 100 candidates had their qualification records altered, including 15 candidates in the current rank list.

According to the allegations, candidates were initially issued certificates identifying them as "casual labourers". When these were reportedly found unacceptable for PSC recruitment, the records were allegedly changed to describe them as "permanent" or "temporary" employees.

Govt says issue cannot be ignored

The minister alleged there had been collusion between the PSC and the PRD in facilitating the appointments and claimed that individuals linked to the CPM secured jobs through the recruitment process during the final phase of the previous LDF government's tenure.

Janeesh also alleged that while the PSC subjected applicants from mainstream media organisations to rigorous scrutiny, often rejecting them over minor discrepancies in their experience records, it failed to apply the same standards in the disputed appointments.

Describing the alleged irregularities as a "bad tendency" that could not be overlooked, he said the UDF government viewed the matter with utmost seriousness and would carry out a comprehensive inquiry.

The controversy emerged after candidate Jisha Elizabeth challenged the recruitment before the Kerala Administrative Tribunal. The tribunal subsequently stayed the recruitment process after reportedly finding prima facie evidence of irregularities during its examination of the records.