Kerala PSC chief summoned by Crime Branch after Governor's removal recommendation
By Kabir SethiEducation Correspondent, Peepals Yuva
Representative image: F1Digitals / Pixabay
Kerala PSC chairman M R Baiju must appear before a Crime Branch SIT on October 28, 2026, after ex-Governor Arlekar's call to remove him and members became public.
What Happened
Kerala PSC chairman M R Baiju has been summoned to appear on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, before a Crime Branch Special Investigation Team (SIT) looking into irregularities in recruitment exams, reports said on Monday, October 26. The summons comes a day after it became public that Kerala's former Governor, Rajendra Arlekar, had recommended to President Droupadi Murmu that the chairman and members of the Kerala Public Service Commission (PSC) be removed for "misbehaviour". The opposition LDF has called the recommendation unconstitutional and an abuse of power.
Key Facts
- Recommendation: former Governor Rajendra Arlekar wrote to President Droupadi Murmu on October 15, 2026, about a week before he left office on October 23, recommending removal of the PSC chairman and its members, according to Lok Bhavan sources cited in reports.
- Number of members: reports differ, giving 15 or 16 members along with the chairman.
- Basis: a Crime Branch probe into the recruitment exam for the State Planning Board and other tests, which reports say found answer sheets that were not evaluated and errors in evaluation.
- Summons: Baiju has been served a Crime Branch notice to appear before the SIT for questioning on Wednesday, October 28.
- Court challenge: the PSC had earlier approached the Kerala High Court to challenge the investigation.
- Constitutional route: under Article 317 of the Constitution, a PSC chairman or member can be removed for misbehaviour by the President only after the Supreme Court inquires into the matter and recommends it.
- Reaction: former Chief Minister and LDF leader Pinarayi Vijayan condemned the recommendation as unconstitutional and illegal; the BJP's youth wing, Yuva Morcha, welcomed it.
Why It Matters
The Kerala PSC is the body that recruits people for state government jobs in Kerala, from clerks and teachers to police and engineers. Very large numbers of young people prepare for its exams, often for several years, so anything that touches its credibility matters directly to them. The allegations at the centre of this case, that answer sheets were left unevaluated and that marking was flawed, go to the heart of what job aspirants need from a recruitment body: a fair and accurate result.
At this stage, nothing has been proved. Reports describe the recommendation as an unprecedented step, and the Constitution sets a high bar for removal. A Governor's recommendation does not remove anyone by itself. Under Article 317, the President would have to refer the matter to the Supreme Court, which would hold an inquiry, and only if the court recommends removal can the President act. Reports also differ on whether Arlekar himself referred the matter to the Supreme Court before leaving office or whether that step lies with the President. While such an inquiry is pending, the Governor has the power to suspend the chairman and members, according to one report.
The case is also political. The recommendation was made public only after the Governor left office, and it is opposed by the LDF, which was in power in Kerala until May 2026. That mix of a criminal investigation, a constitutional procedure and a political dispute means the outcome may take months.
For aspirants, the practical question is whether exams and results will be affected. No report so far says that any scheduled Kerala PSC exam has been cancelled or postponed because of this case.
| Step | Date (2026) |
|---|---|
| Arlekar's letter to the President | October 15 |
| Arlekar leaves office | October 23 |
| Recommendation made public | October 25 |
| Baiju to appear before SIT | October 28 |
Impact
Short-term: The PSC chairman faces questioning by the Crime Branch SIT on October 28, and the President's office must decide how to act on the recommendation. The PSC's petition against the probe remains before the Kerala High Court.
Long-term: If the matter reaches the Supreme Court and removal is recommended, Kerala's recruitment body would get a new leadership. Either way, the investigation's findings on unevaluated answer sheets could lead to changes in how the commission checks and audits exam evaluation.
Who is affected: Young people preparing for Kerala PSC exams, candidates who took the State Planning Board recruitment exam, the PSC's chairman and members, and Kerala's government and opposition.
Key Takeaway
Kerala PSC chairman M R Baiju has been summoned before a Crime Branch SIT on October 28, 2026, after former Governor Rajendra Arlekar's recommendation to remove him and the commission's members became public, a step the Constitution allows only after a Supreme Court inquiry.
Questions and Answers
What is happening with the Kerala PSC?
Former Governor Rajendra Arlekar has recommended to President Droupadi Murmu that the Kerala PSC chairman and members be removed, citing irregularities found in a Crime Branch probe into recruitment exams. Separately, chairman M R Baiju has been summoned to appear before the Crime Branch SIT on October 28, 2026.
Can the Governor remove the Kerala PSC chairman?
No. Under Article 317 of the Constitution, only the President can remove a PSC chairman or member for misbehaviour, and only after the Supreme Court holds an inquiry and recommends removal. The Governor can suspend them while that inquiry is pending.
Are Kerala PSC exams cancelled because of this?
No report so far says any scheduled Kerala PSC exam has been cancelled or postponed because of this case. Candidates should follow notices on the commission's official website.
What do the opposition and the PSC say?
LDF leader and former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan called the recommendation unconstitutional and an abuse of power. The PSC had earlier gone to the Kerala High Court to challenge the Crime Branch investigation.
Disclaimer: Prepared by the Peepals newsroom from publicly available sources with AI assistance. Information is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication and may change. Images may be representative. Not professional advice. Report an error via our contact page.
By Kabir Sethi, Education CorrespondentCovers Education and more for Peepals Yuva. All stories by Kabir Sethi
Marine Corps Marathon 2026: Kyle King wins third straight, Slade takes women's
Valencia Half Marathon 2026: Kwizera sets Spanish record, Chepkirui wins by a second
Kabir Sethi is a pen name of the Peepals Global Editorial Team, which researches, fact-checks and publishes every story. The portrait is an illustration.
