The Kerala government has ordered an inquiry into alleged irregularities in the Public Service Commission’s recommendation of former SFI activist K J Jithin for appointment as deputy superintendent of police, putting the prescribed police training for the recommended candidates on hold.
Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala ordered the probe after a complaint was filed by R S Sasikumar, chairman of the Save University Campaign Committee, according to a report by The Times of India. Ajitha Beegum, who is already heading an investigation into alleged irregularities in PSC recruitment, has been assigned the new inquiry.
Jithin, a former SFI activist at Maharaja’s College in Ernakulam, and J Sankeerthana were recommended by the PSC for appointment as DSPs. The complaint reportedly stated that Jithin was placed first in the rank list. The supplied report does not provide details of the selection process, the specific allegations made against the recommendations or the PSC’s response to the complaint.
The government has decided that both candidates will be permitted to undergo the prescribed police training only after the inquiry is completed. The decision creates an immediate administrative pause between the PSC’s recommendation and the next stage of appointment, while the allegations are examined by the investigating officer.
The case has also moved to the Kerala Administrative Tribunal, where a petition challenging the appointments has been filed. The tribunal’s petition will place the appointment process under judicial scrutiny alongside the government-ordered inquiry. The supplied report does not specify the date of the next hearing or the relief sought by the petitioner.
The episode concerns two separate institutional processes: the PSC’s role in preparing and recommending candidates for government service, and the government’s responsibility for completing appointment formalities and police training. The decision to defer training means that the recommendations have not yet resulted in the candidates entering the prescribed training stage, pending the inquiry’s findings.
The allegations remain allegations, and the inquiry is expected to establish whether any irregularity occurred in the selection or recommendation process. No finding of wrongdoing against Jithin, Sankeerthana or any PSC official has been reported in the supplied material.
The next formal developments will be the completion of the inquiry assigned to Ajitha Beegum and proceedings in the Kerala Administrative Tribunal. The government’s decision on police training will depend on the outcome of the inquiry.
