Kerala PSC faces legal dilemma over Crime Branch summons in Planning Board exam scam

The Kerala Public Service Commission (PSC) finds itself in a legal quandary as it seeks advice on whether its chairperson and members should attend a summons from the Crime Branch concerning alleged irregularities in a Planning Board exam. The matter is anticipated to be resolved at a pivotal PSC meeting scheduled for Monday, September 14, 2026, with the final decision likely to be made on Tuesday, September 15, 2026.

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) recently issued summonses to four PSC members, requesting their appearance at the Crime Branch headquarters for questioning and statement recording. However, the PSC is taking a firm stance that its officials cannot comply with the summons, citing the rules and protocols that govern the constitutional body.

Instead, the commission has signaled its readiness to cooperate if the investigators visit the PSC headquarters to record their statements. The Crime Branch, on the other hand, has reportedly refused to accept the PSC's proposition, asserting that the PSC members' presence at the Crime Branch headquarters for questioning would not contravene any special protocol or constitutional obligation.

This disagreement has prompted the PSC to request a formal legal opinion from its standing counsel and legal representatives before the Kerala High Court and the Kerala Administrative Tribunal. The legal advice is anticipated to be deliberated upon during the PSC meeting on Monday. Meanwhile, the investigators have stated that the SIT could directly proceed to the PSC office to question the officials if they do not attend the summons issued by the Crime Branch.