Commissions’ omissions

Most members and chairpersons of state public service commissions are appointed on political considerations. They want constitutional protection on the pattern of Supreme Court and High Court judges to check political interference in the discharge of their duties. In other words, ouster only through impeachment and immunity in terms of inquiries and actions initiated. This, they argue, will help them in their primary task of recruitment and promotion of government officials. Who has stopped them, one might ask, from refusing to succumb to political pressure to appoint x, y or z? They already enjoy immunity from routine dismissal since they hold a constitutional post. As it is, Article 319 disallows government employment after the tenure other than as chairman of any other PSC. So where is the need to hobnob with politicians in the first place?
A consensus also emerged at the national conference of chairpersons and members on financial autonomy. They spoke in one voice for computer-based recruitment tests to ensure the secrecy and sanctity of written competitive examinations. Both are legitimate demands. A few voices calling for a rigid system of appointment of commission members purely on merit would have sounded good too. There have been scams in several states that point to PSC members preparing result lists as dictated. Haryana has seen it, Punjab the worst form. Former PPSC chairman Ravi Sidhu's lust for money to dole out jobs landed him in jail.
Shimla's cool environs probably made the commission members go the extra mile. They could not resist demanding a raise in their retirement age from 62 to 65 years and uniformity in pay and perks with the Union Public Service Commission. The UPSC enjoys far greater credibility, so at least they can match them in salaries. The PSCs in many states invite allegations of wrongdoing the moment any recruitment takes place. They first have to clear the test of regaining public trust and that means each and every member learning to say no. That's not easy, but it was never supposed to be, hence the coveted post.