Pinarayi Vijayan Calls Former Governor’s Recommendation Against PSC Illegal, Demands Discussion in Assembly

Thiruvananthapuram: Opposition Leader Pinarayi Vijayan has termed the former Kerala Governor’s recommendation to remove the Kerala Public Service Commission (PSC) chairman and members a violation of the law. He demanded a discussion in the Assembly on what he described as a unilateral move.

For the first time in the state’s history, a former Kerala Governor has recommended to the President the removal of the PSC chairman and members. The recommendation came even before the investigation ordered by the government into the PSC’s functioning had been completed, which he described as an exercise of excessive authority.

The Crime Branch investigation has not found any lapses on the part of the chairman or members so far. The Article 163 of the Constitution requires the Governor to act on the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers in matters concerning the exercise of executive powers. He termed the move unconstitutional.

Under Article 316, members of a Public Service Commission have a tenure of six years. Their removal must follow the procedure laid down in Article 317. The President can decide on their removal only after the Supreme Court conducts an inquiry and submits its report.

According to the information available, the PSC chairman and members are yet to be questioned, indicating that the investigation is still at an early stage. Pinarayi Vijayan questioned the evidence on which the former Governor had based the recommendation.

He said the former Governor’s action amounted to a violation of the law and was unacceptable to the state government under the federal system. The government should not accept the recommendation, he said, warning that doing so could pave the way for similar interventions in several other matters in the future.

He also cautioned that the government would pay a heavy price if it supported what he described as legal violations by the BJP government through the use of Governors. He urged the government to recognise the seriousness of the issue and take appropriate legal action.