The Kerala PSC office in ThiruvananthapuramThiruvananthapuram: The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has found that the Kerala Public Service Commission (PSC) has failed to notify at least 452 vacancies in different government departments. These vacancies had come up in 128 posts before March 31 last year. The report of the central auditor points out that PSC made a delay of 11 to 77 months despite the departments informing the recruiting body of vacancies.
It took the PSC up to five years to notify 107 job vacancies. In another 103, the delay was five to ten years. The CAG cites examples to show that there were delays of 16 to 18 years to publish two vacancies.
The state transport corporation had on May 23, 2006, informed the PSC of 13 vacancies for blacksmiths. The PSC notification came only on December 30, 2009. It was also found that posts of agricultural officers were reported on March 20, 2007, but were notified on July 16, 2012.
The PSC also bungled in recruitment of Arabic teachers to higher secondary schools, which the education department had never reported. The PSC called for applications and 924 people sought the job. A rank list of 13 was prepared. However, it was canceled in October 2011 without appointing anyone.
The CAG says the PSC is failing in publishing rank lists. It is mandatory for the PSC to publish rank lists within one year of notification. However, it was found that the process of appointment took as many as three to four years in 156 cases, four to five years in 94, and six years in 33. In another seven vacancies it took six years.
The PSC had decided to consider vacancies in which the appointees do not join as new vacancies. The CAG points out that it caused job losses to differently abled people and job seekers from different communities.
The auditor also found that 197 research guides at MG University are not qualified as per University Grants Commission specifications. At the School of Gandhian Studies, a homoeo research scholar's guide was a PhD in social sciences.
The university delays exam and revaluation results as much as one to nine months. Up to 59% of certificates were distributed six months after receiving applications. An undeserved Rs 13.97 crore was given to teachers for exam paper valuation. Employees were given Rs. 2.20 crores as excess house rent allowance. Students in recognized colleges and those on off-campus institutions were given the same degree certificates.
Irregularity was found in creation of 10 posts of section officers.
Circular unification
The Public Service Commission (PSC) has decided to unify circulars on grace marks and interview score given for the posts of teachers in all departments except medical education. The academic committee has been tasked with finalizing details.
Rank list for teachers from school to college level is prepared considering OMR exam score, academic marks, grace mark, and interview marks. As of now, there are nine circulars on academic and grace marks. The effort is to unify all these into one.
The PSC will publish a short list of UP School Assistant (Malayalam) posts in all districts. It was decided to accept a government suggestion that vacancies in fire service for fireman driver-cum-pump operator be filled up on the basis of existing rank list as new notification is awaited. The proposal was made considering that a new notification could bring changes in qualification.
It was decided that ex-service men who had completed 14 years could apply to last grade jobs as they would qualify for honorary degree in the 15th year. However, confusion still prevails on whether they can be appointed to posts that require degree qualification.
