Thiruvananthapuram: The special investigation team (SIT) probing the Kerala Public Service Commission (PSC) examination irregularity has decided to question its chairman and members as part of its investigation into the alleged manipulation of online evaluation of answer sheets, it is reliably learnt.Sources said notices had been issued to the PSC chairman and members, asking them to appear before the SIT for questioning from Tuesday. The move comes after the SIT confirmed the involvement of two PSC officials in the lapses related to the evaluation process.The SIT suspects that the irregularities may have involved a criminal conspiracy and the questioning of the members is aimed at establishing whether there was any manipulation of the evaluation process. The members’ statement will also form the basis for questioning PSC chairman M R Baiju.The SIT is examining the circumstances in which questions carrying a total of 58 marks were left unevaluated. According to the investigation, 10 questions were not evaluated. The officials responsible for the evaluation had told the investigators that the omission was caused by a technical error.The SIT, however, has found serious lapses on the part of the two officials and has recommended departmental action against them. The investigation team has already written to govt seeking departmental proceedings against the two officials. Govt is expected to forward the recommendation to the PSC.The questioning of the PSC leadership assumes significance as some commission members had raised allegations that the chairman was functioning as a one-member commission without adequate consultation with other members. They had also decided to approach the SIT in connection with these concerns.The probe was launched after a complaint alleged that irregularities were committed in the evaluation of an examination to facilitate the appointment of a person associated with a Left service organisation. The SIT, which includes technical experts, subsequently examined the online evaluation process and related records.The investigation team has also sought an explanation from the PSC in connection with a complaint related to the Kerala Administrative Service examination. Further investigation and action are expected in the coming days.The SIT is now examining whether the lapses in evaluation were solely the result of a technical error, as claimed by the officials, or whether they were part of a deliberate effort to manipulate the examination results. The questioning of the PSC chairman and members is expected to help the investigators establish the sequence of events and the possible involvement of others.
