Kerala PSC Recruitment Row: Minister OJ Janeesh Alleges Appointment Irregularities, Says Government To Order Probe

Kerala Youth Welfare Minister OJ Janeesh on Saturday alleged irregularities in appointments made by the Kerala Public Service Commission (PSC) during the previous Left Democratic Front (LDF) government's tenure and said the present government would conduct an investigation into the matter.

The minister's remarks come amid allegations surrounding appointments to the State Planning Board, where the answers to 10 questions written by a candidate were allegedly not evaluated. Following the controversy, the PSC initially ordered an inquiry through its internal vigilance wing before deciding to hand over the probe to the Controller of Examinations. VD Satheesan Net Worth: New Kerala CM Declares Assets Worth Over INR 6 Crore.

Questioning the move, Janeesh alleged that entrusting the investigation to the Controller of Examinations raised concerns about the fairness of the process. He claimed the PSC appeared to be protecting those responsible for the alleged irregularities.

According to the minister, the issue came to light after an aspirant from Alappuzha pursued a prolonged legal battle. He alleged that details related to the examination were disclosed only after the intervention of the State Information Commission.

Janeesh also referred to appointments made through the PSC to the Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS), claiming that 38 of the 44 selected candidates were from a single college. He alleged that the recruitment raised questions about possible manipulation of answer sheets and question papers. Keralam Meaning: Why Did Kerala Change Its Name?

The minister further claimed that similar irregularities may have occurred in PSC recruitments over the past decade, leading many job aspirants to question the integrity of earlier rank lists. He also alleged that several key PSC functionaries, including its chairman and members, were appointed during the previous LDF government's tenure.

Janeesh said the government was committed to ensuring a proper investigation while acknowledging that the PSC, being a constitutional body, is subject to legal and procedural safeguards. He said the Chief Minister had assured that the Cabinet would take an appropriate decision after examining the legal aspects of the matter.

The minister also welcomed the state government's directive asking heads of government departments to report vacancies within three weeks. He alleged that vacancies were not reported to the PSC during the previous government's tenure, resulting in backdoor appointments in government departments.

The previous LDF government has not responded to Janeesh's allegations.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 04, 2026 06:20 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).