The Organisation
The Public Service Commission is a body created by the constitution
of India. The provisions concerning the Union Public Service
commission at the Centre and other State Public Service
Commissions have been laid down in Chapter II of part XIV
of the constitution. The present Kerala Public Service Commission
is the transformation of the Travancore Cochin Public Service
commission during the formation of the State of Kerala on
01.11.1956 as the result of the reorganization of states.
The provisions
in the Constitution ensure the competence of the Commission
to deal with the matters relating to the services and enable
them to discharge their duties in a fair and impartial manner,
free from influence from any quarter. The Governor of the
State appoints the Chairman and Members of the commission.
The composition of the commission is such that as nearly
as one half of the members of it shall be persons who on
the date of their appointment have at least 10 years of
service under the Government. The chairman or any other
Member of the Commission can hold office for a period of
six years or till he attains the age of 62 years which ever
is earlier. On the expiry of the term, the Chairman or any
other Member is ineligible for reappointment under the central
or the state Government. But a Member of the commission
may be appointed as the Chairman of the Commission or as
the Member of the Union Public Service Commission for another
term. Only the President of India in accordance with the
procedure laid down in the Constitution can remove the Chairman
or any other member of the commission from office. The conditions
of service of the Chairman or a Member once appointed cannot
be varied to his disadvantage. The expense connected with
the Public Service Commission are not votable, but are charged
on the Consolidated Fund of the State.
DUTIES
& FUNCTIONS
The
duties and functions of the Commission have been laid down
in Art. 320 of the constitution and they are:
1. To conduct examinations for appointments to the services
of the state;
2. The Commission shall be consulted –
a. on all matters relating to the methods of recruitment
to civil services and for civil posts;
b. on the principles to be followed in making appointments
to civil services and posts and in making promotions and
transfers from one service to another and on the suitability
of candidates for such appointments, promotions or transfers;
c. on all disciplinary matters affecting a person serving
under the Government in civil capacity, including memorials
or petitions relating to such matters;
d. on any claim by or in respect of a person who is serving
or has served under the Government in a civil capacity that
any cost incurred by him in defending legal proceedings
instituted against him in respect of acts done or purporting
to be done in the execution of his duty should be paid out
of the Consolidated Fund of the State;
e. on any claim for the award of pension in respect of injuries
sustained by a person while serving under the Government
in a civil capacity, and any question as to the amount of
any such award, and it shall be the duty of the commission
to advise on any matter so referred to them and on any other
matter which the Governor of the State may refer to them;
provided that the Governor of the state is empowered to
make Regulations specifying the matter in which either generally,
or in any particular class of case or in any particular
circumstances, it shall not be necessary for the Public
Service Commission to be consulted.
ADDITIONAL
FUNCTIONS
Under Article 321 of the Constitution of India an Act made
by the Legislature of the State may provide for the exercise
of additional functions by the commission as respects the
services of any local authority or other body corporate
constituted by law or of any public institution.
