The Kerala Public Service Commission (PSC) is facing a crisis after a re‑evaluation of the exam for the Chief (Industry and Infrastructure Division) position on the Kerala State Planning Board caused a significant reshuffle of the rank list.
In the revised list, Shyam Krishnan, who had originally been ranked third, moved up to first place, while Arun J. Pratap, who had topped the original list, fell to fifth. The re‑evaluation followed Mr Krishnan’s challenge of the original rankings in the Kerala High Court, and the change is likely to result in Mr Pratap’s removal from the post.
PSC officials declined to comment on whether the newly ranked first‑place candidate would be appointed, citing that the matter is sub‑judice. They said the commission would not act hastily and would await the court’s final decision before taking any further steps, noting that there are no procedural obstacles to removing a candidate appointed on the basis of an erroneous rank list.
Former PSC chairman M.K. Sakeer explained that the commission’s Rules of Procedure allow the removal of a candidate appointed erroneously due to a major valuation error, but warned that such action could trigger a prolonged legal battle if the appointed candidate challenges the decision in court.
Mr Krishnan’s year‑long legal fight exposed flaws in the original ranking, and the High Court had suggested a larger conspiracy behind the alleged irregularities. The PSC has said it has taken steps to correct the errors in the rank list and evaluation process, and has separately filed a writ petition to quash the government’s sanction to prosecute its employees and the FIR registered by the Crime Branch.
