Thiruvananthapuram: Opposition leader VD Satheesan demanded in the assembly that the Chief Minister should be prepared to extend the tenure of the rank lists without seeing the agitating PSC candidates as enemies. He also alleged that the non-extension of the existing list was to pave the way for the backdoor appointment in the event that the examination for the new list was not even conducted.
Satheesan said that the Chief Minister was treating the candidates with hostility as he had gone on strike before the elections. They should be seen as children, not as enemies. The Chief Minister alleged that the Opposition was trying to undermine the credibility of the PSC by passing an urgent resolution. The PSC’s credibility was tarnished by those who disguised themselves, delivered question papers to DYFI leaders and placed them first, second and third in the rankings.
The government has no technical, legal or practical impediment to extending the rank lists. The rankings were extended to February 4. No appointment has been made for three months since the code of conduct came into force on February 26. The lockdown was then announced from May 8. Government offices reopened only at the end of June, after the lockdown. Therefore, the candidates did not get the benefit of the extension.
Instead, the government’s insistence that the old list will not be extended even when the rank lists do not exist is a challenge to job seekers. The examination for the post of Last Grade Servant will be held on October 30, 2022. Where will the government fill the vacancies? He said the government was trying to infiltrate party members and relatives through the back door.
PSC has the power to extend the tenure of the rank list from three months to one and a half years in exceptional circumstances. Not even half of the appointments made in 2015-18 have taken place since then. The government is yet to fulfill the promise given to the striking candidates in front of the Secretariat. The Chief Minister should not retaliate against the protesters. The Leader of the Opposition also blamed the government for not having the eyes and ears to see and hear the grievances of the candidates.
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