Narendran Commission to call for PSC data

By K.S. Sudhi

KOCHI, JAN. 10. Irked by the reluctance of the State Public Service Commission to part with the information demanded, the Justice Narendran Commission on OBC representation in State service will summon the necessary documents invoking provisions of the Commissions of Enquiry Act.

The Commission will also write to the State Government seeking extension of its term and the cut-off date for filing the data as its term will end on February.

A decision to this effect will be taken at the January 18 meeting of the Commission, sources said.

The extension of the cut-off date is sought in the wake of most of the Government departments failing to return the caste-wise list and appointment details of the employees in time.

Though the Commission had fixed December 31, 2000, as the deadline for all Government secretaries to submit the list of 5.5 lakh employees, the Commission had so far received the appointment details of only 1.06 lakh employees, sources said.

The Commission, in July last year, had issued the proforma and guidelines for Government employees. It had also convened a few meetings of Government secretaries who were acting as the nodal officers for the distribution and collection of the data in an attempt to speed up the filing of the data.

Two Commission staffers had also visited all the district collectorates following complaints that the proforma had not been received in many of the offices.

According to Commission sources, it will take at least three months after receiving the full figures to process and compile the list.

Under these circumstances, the Commission will have to extend the deadline and its term for filing the report, sources said.

The State Government had appointed the former Kerala High Court judge, Mr. K.K. Narendran, the former chief secretary, Mr. K.B. Rabindran Nair, and the former PSC chairman, Mr. T.M. Savan Kutty, as the commission in February 2000 to ascertain the OBC representation in State service, autonomous bodies and universities.

Under Section 5(2) of the Act, any commission formed under the Commissions of Enquiries Act, 1952, can call for any files, data and information it deems necessary for discharging its duties.

The three-member Commission had, nearly one year ago, asked the PSC to furnish details of the appointments it made during the last 30 years for ascertaining the OBC representation in State service.

The Commission had also held a meeting with the PSC chairman highlighting the need for the data.

But, the PSC submitted only the appointment details during the 1995-99 period. The PSC did not respond to the reminders issued by the Commission citing the 25-lakh job applications pending with it and staff shortage as reasons for not furnishing the data demanded by the Commission.

The Commission, while asking PSC to furnish the details is also likely to bring the issue to the notice of the State Government.

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Section  : Southern States
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