The Kerala Public Service Commission (PSC) has refused to release key recruitment documents related to the appointment of the Chief Industry and Infrastructure post in the Kerala State Planning Board, defying a direct order from the State Information Commission to disclose the records under the Right to Information (RTI) Act. The development has intensified scrutiny over transparency in one of the state's most consequential constitutional bodies.

What the Information Commission Ordered

The State Information Commission had delivered a significant ruling against the PSC, directing it to furnish all sought documents — including answer scripts, interview marks, the complete marks list of all candidates, and other recruitment-related records — within seven days. The order overturned the PSC's earlier refusal and was seen as a major accountability intervention.

The directive gained added weight because the recruitment had already attracted allegations that ten answers in the written examination were left unevaluated — a revelation that raised serious doubts about the integrity of the selection process and prompted demands from unsuccessful candidates for full transparency.

PSC's Defiance and Planned Legal Challenge

Instead of complying, the PSC reportedly rejected the complainant's fresh application seeking the documents, informing the candidate that the records would not be released. The Commission is also understood to be preparing to challenge the Information Commission's order before a higher legal forum — a move that candidates allege is designed to delay, and potentially frustrate, disclosure.

Candidates who were unsuccessful in the recruitment process have now resolved to contest the PSC's stand through legal channels, arguing that a constitutional recruitment body cannot selectively withhold information after a statutory authority has mandated its release.

Crime Branch Probe Underway

The PSC's defiance comes at a time when the Kerala government has already ordered a Crime Branch Police probe into the matter. According to reports, the Crime Branch team has completed its preliminary sitting and is expected to deepen its investigation in the coming days. The parallel tracks — a statutory information battle and a criminal inquiry — reflect the scale of concern surrounding this recruitment.

Political Dimension

The controversy carries a clear political undertone. The Planning Board appointment was made under the Pinarayi Vijayan-led Left government, and the entire 15-member PSC board was constituted during the previous Left administration. Both the Indian National Congress (Congress) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have demanded an independent investigation into alleged irregularities in PSC recruitments. The PSC's refusal to comply with the RTI order is likely to sharpen those demands and deepen scrutiny of the Commission's functioning.

What Comes Next

The legal battle now moves to a higher forum, with the PSC expected to challenge the Information Commission's directive. The outcome could determine not only the fate of this specific recruitment but also set a significant precedent on the limits of transparency obligations for constitutional bodies in Kerala. Candidates, opposition parties, and civil society groups are expected to closely watch the next hearing.