Thiruvananthapuram: In a major setback to the Kerala Public Service Commission (PSC), the State Information Commission has directed PSC to release examination records related to the controversial recruitment to the posts in the State Planning Board.The commission ordered PSC to provide all requested documents to applicants within seven days. The records to be released include candidates’ answer scripts, marks awarded in the interview, copies of the question paper and the complete mark list of all candidates who appeared for the examination.The order comes after the PSC declined to furnish the documents despite requests made under the Right to Information (RTI) Act. Overruling the commission’s objections, the information commission directed that the details be made available to the applicants.The disclosure is expected to shed further light on the recruitment process and determine whether the examination was affected by additional irregularities.The controversy pertains to the recruitment to the post of chief industry and infrastructure officer under the State Planning Board. Earlier, it had emerged that answers to 10 questions written by a candidate were allegedly not evaluated, triggering allegations of serious irregularities in the selection process.The recruitment has since come under intense scrutiny, with the PSC already cancelling the rank list and ordering an internal vigilance probe into the alleged irregularities. The release of the examination records is expected to provide greater transparency and could have a significant bearing on the ongoing investigations into the recruitment process.
