Ex-Governor Arlekar Petitions President to Dismiss Chairman and Members
In an unprecedented constitutional development, former Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar has written to the President under Article 317 seeking the removal of Kerala PSC Chairman M.R. Baiju and board members amid a stalled Crime Branch recruitment fraud probe and sharp High Court censure.
In an unprecedented move that has sent shockwaves through Kerala's political and administrative corridors, former Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar has formally petitioned the President of India to remove Kerala Public Service Commission (KPSC) Chairman M.R. Baiju along with several commission members. Marking the first time in the state's history that a Governor has directly approached Rashtrapati Bhavan to demand the dismissal of the recruitment body’s apex leadership, the recommendation was dispatched just before Arlekar concluded his gubernatorial tenure in Thiruvananthapuram on October 23 to transition full-time to Tamil Nadu, paving the way for newly appointed Governor Om Prakash Mathur to assume office. The drastic measure stems from mounting allegations of institutional corruption and recruitment irregularities in competitive examinations conducted by the State Planning Board and the commission, culminating in administrative paralysis after commission executives repeatedly stonewalled criminal investigators.
Stalled Crime Branch Probe and High Court Censure Trigger Unprecedented Crackdown
The recommendation was precipitated by an ongoing Crime Branch inquiry into widespread exam manipulation across public service recruitment drives, a probe that ground to a halt after the commission's top leadership refused to cooperate. Investigating officers reported that despite multiple official summons, Chairman M.R. Baiju, commission members, and senior administrative personnel consistently evaded questioning and failed to present themselves before the investigative team. The administrative standoff drew sharp scrutiny on Saturday when the Kerala High Court expressed serious displeasure over the prolonged delay in the investigation, raising pointed questions regarding potential collusion between elements within the ruling dispensation and the opposition to shield influential figures from accountability. Prompted by protests and formal petitions submitted by youth and student organizations, including the Yuva Morcha and the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), Arlekar initiated the constitutional offensive after reviewing comprehensive dossiers submitted by state police and internal vigilance wings.
The Constitutional Mandate: How Article 317 Governs the Removal of PSC Members
While the former Governor’s missive underscores the severity of the charges, the constitutional framework governing the Public Service Commission ensures that neither the state executive nor the Raj Bhavan can unilaterally terminate appointed members. Under Article 317 of the Constitution of India, members of a State Public Service Commission can only be removed from their positions through a presidential reference to the Supreme Court of India on grounds of substantiated misbehavior or grave misconduct. The President can issue a formal dismissal decree only if the apex court conducts an inquiry and explicitly recommends removal, although the state Governor holds the statutory prerogative to place the implicated officials under immediate suspension once the matter is formally referred to the Supreme Court.
