Kerala PSC Faces Heat Over Evaluation Lapse
Fresh Evaluation Ordered as RTI Findings Trigger Probe and Transparency Debate
GG News Bureau
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, 7th July: The Kerala Public Service Commission (PSC) has come under scrutiny after admitting that answers carrying 58 out of 100 marks were left unevaluated in a 2023 recruitment examination, prompting a vigilance probe and raising fresh questions over the transparency of recruitment processes.
The lapse surfaced after a candidate obtained his answer sheet under the Right to Information (RTI) Act and found that responses to 10 questions had not been assessed. The PSC later confirmed that the error affected all 228 candidates who appeared for the examination for three Planning Board posts.
The Commission attributed the lapse to a technical fault in its digital evaluation system and has ordered a fresh evaluation of all answer sheets. The State Information Commission has also directed the PSC to provide recruitment-related records sought under the RTI Act.
The controversy has led to differences within the Commission over the inquiry process before its Vigilance Wing was tasked with investigating whether the lapse resulted from a technical error. The Kerala Administrative Tribunal has sought an explanation from the PSC, while the state government is considering further action after obtaining legal opinion.
The issue has also reignited political debate over the functioning of the PSC during the previous Left Democratic Front (LDF) government. Opposition parties have demanded a broader investigation into past recruitments, while Youth Congress workers staged protests outside the PSC headquarters seeking accountability.
