Governor's reference to the President seeks removal of the Kerala PSC chairman and members

28 October 2026

Kerala's former Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar has recommended to President Droupadi Murmu the removal of Kerala Public Service Commission chairman M R Baiju and the Commission's 15 members on the ground of misbehaviour. The recommendation was sent on 15 October 2026, about a week before he was relieved of charge in Kerala on 23 October. The State government is now weighing its options should the President act on it.

Article 317(1) of the Constitution allows the President to remove the chairman or a member of a State Public Service Commission for misbehaviour only after a reference to the Supreme Court and a report by that Court that the person ought to be removed. Under Article 316 a member of a State Public Service Commission holds office for six years or until the age of 62. Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan has told the Assembly that no such reference or inquiry has taken place.

The ground is the evaluation of a Commission examination for Chief posts, in which 228 answer sheets were found to carry unevaluated descriptive questions. The lapse came to light when a rank holder, K Shyam Krishnan, obtained his answer sheet under the Right to Information Act. A Crime Branch investigation is under way.