The State government is reportedly sitting on a proposal of the Public Service Commission (PSC) for augmenting its staff strength to cope up with the increasing workload.
The commission is understood to have forwarded the proposal seeking 300 posts to deliver its services in time. Commission sources told The Hindu here that the current staff strength of 1,600 was too inadequate to complete all assigned tasks in time and unless there is a let up in the situation, recruitment procedures would grind to a complete halt soon.
Of late, the Supreme Court had brought the commission under the purview of the Right to Information Act.
Despite having a reasonably sound record maintenance system, a thorough streamlining of all sections has become imperative for issuing RTI queries in time. This itself calls for more supervisory posts. Recently the State government had entrusted the recruitment to universities to the commission, but it was silent on the proposal for granting more posts to tackle the additional burden.
Ignoring the commission’s proposal to issue an executive order for expediting the selection of fresh candidates for filling the vacancies, the government directed the commission to select candidates from the rank list of Secretariat assistants. On turning a deaf ear to the commission’s proposal, the university recruitment procedures too are moving at a snail’s pace, the sources said.
One-time verification of credentials of applicants, scrutiny of the testimonials of those who have joined the State government service and such others tasks are all remaining in limbo. The service verification system was introduced following the eruption of a job scam in Wayanad.
The commission could not go ahead with the verification process for want of staff.
This would give room for corrupt practices again, the sources said.
Preparation of shortlists for various posts involving a large number of applicants and conduct of the practical tests for selection to uniformed forces also are likely to be delayed.
The Finance Department is allegedly delaying the proposal citing funds crunch. When the commission placed a proposal for Rs.46 crore to meet its urgent requirements, the government gave clearance only to re-appropriate Rs.6 crore from the funds left at its disposal. This would have a serious bearing on the recruitment process, the sources said.
Recruitment process likely
to be affected
due to shortage
of staff.
