Now Reading: Arlekar recommends removal of Kerala PSC chief Baiju to President
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Arlekar recommends removal of Kerala PSC chief Baiju to President
The Story in Brief
Former Kerala governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar recommended the removal of Kerala Public Service Commission (PSC) chairman M R Baiju in a letter to President Droupadi Murmu about a week before he was transferred to Tamil Nadu, sources told PTI. Officials described the move as rare and unprecedented in the state's history.
Arlekar cited allegations of irregularities and an investigation into the statutory body's functioning, and also referred the matter to the Supreme Court. The development comes amid a Crime Branch probe into alleged PSC examination irregularities, which the Kerala High Court recently criticised as lacklustre.
Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan termed the governor's move 'illegal' and 'unconstitutional', arguing that removal requires a Supreme Court inquiry under Article 317. Yuva Morcha welcomed the recommendation and said it is seeking an appointment with the President to raise concerns.
Indian Opinion Analysis
India Today and The Economic Times both report the same facts from PTI, but the critical framing comes entirely from Opposition Leader Pinarayi Vijayan's statement, which The Economic Times carries in detail. India Today omits Vijayan's constitutional objections entirely, giving no counterweight to the removal recommendation. The Economic Times presents the story as a political clash: Arlekar's action versus Vijayan's charge that it is an abuse of power under Article 317. The balanced reading is that the removal is a first-of-its-kind gubernatorial move, but it faces a legal hurdle: no Supreme Court inquiry has been held. The next step is Yuva Morcha's planned delegation to the President.
The Economic Times further quotes Vijayan arguing that the governor must act on the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers under Article 163 and had no independent authority.
Coverage: 2 sources, 1 pro-government, 1 neutral
Sources (2): indiatoday.in (pro government), economictimes.indiatimes.com (neutral report)
This brief was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above, so one read covers every framing they carry. Methodology and corrections.
