Kerala PSC chairman skips questioning; Crime Branch summons him for November 10

The Crime Branch's Special Investigation Team (SIT) has issued a fresh notice to Kerala Public Service Commission (PSC) chairman M.R. Baiju, asking him to appear for questioning on Tuesday, 10 November 2026, after he declined to attend a second round of questioning in the State Planning Board examination irregularities case. Baiju told investigators in writing that he could not appear until the Kerala High Court decides the PSC's petition seeking to quash the investigation. The SIT has said the High Court has neither stayed the probe nor barred it from questioning him, and reports say investigators may inform the court if he does not comply.

The Kerala PSC conducts recruitment examinations for state government jobs, and its credibility rests on the belief that question papers are set and marked fairly. The Planning Board case concerns a recruitment examination in which questions were allegedly left out of evaluation, which can change who makes the rank list. When the head of the commission is under investigation, candidates who are waiting for other results and appointments are watching closely.

The present standoff is about process. The chairman's position is that he will cooperate once the High Court has ruled on the PSC's plea. The SIT's position is that, without a stay, a person who receives a notice is expected to appear. How that dispute is settled, either by Baiju appearing on 10 November or by the court taking up the issue, will decide how fast the probe moves. The High Court had earlier questioned why PSC members were not cooperating with the investigation and had criticised its slow pace.

The case has also become a constitutional and political question. The Governor has recommended invoking Article 317 of the Constitution, which sets out how members of a state public service commission can be removed, against the chairman and 15 members. A BJP delegation has met President Droupadi Murmu seeking their removal. Separately, the Crime Branch has booked the chairman and members in a different case over the Fisheries Extension Officer examination.

Peepals timeline: On 5 October, the High Court questioned why PSC members were not cooperating with the Planning Board probe. On 28 October, the Crime Branch arrested former deputy secretary P. Satheesh. By 31 October, a separate case had been registered against the chairman and members over the Fisheries Extension Officer examination. On 6 November, it was reported that the chairman had declined a second round of questioning. On 7 November, the SIT issued a fresh notice for 10 November.

Short-term: The next step is whether the chairman appears before the SIT on 10 November. If he does not, the investigators may approach the High Court, which is already hearing the PSC's petition.

Long-term: The outcome of the High Court case and of the Article 317 process will decide whether the commission's present leadership stays in office. Any finding that evaluation was manipulated could also affect the rank lists from the examinations under investigation.

Who is affected: Candidates who took the State Planning Board and Fisheries Extension Officer examinations; job-seekers waiting for other Kerala PSC results and appointments; PSC members and staff under investigation; and the state government.

What to watch next: Whether M.R. Baiju appears before the Crime Branch on Tuesday, 10 November 2026, and the High Court's decision on the PSC's petition to quash the investigation.

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