Question

Consider the following statements:
i. The President appoints the members of the Joint State PSC.
ii. The Travancore PSC was formed on June 14, 1936.
iii. The State PSC is not consulted on matters related to reservations for backward classes.
iv. The Governor can appoint an acting chairman if the SPSC Chairman is absent.

Select the true answer from the codes given below:

• A. All the above
• B. Only i, ii, and iii
• C. Only i, iii, and iv
• D. Only ii and iv

Answer 1

Answer:

A. All the above

Public Service Commissions in India

• Joint State Public Service Commission (JSPSC):

  • A JSPSC is created by an Act of Parliament, specifically when two or more states request it through resolutions passed by their respective State Legislatures.

  • The Chairman and members of a JSPSC are appointed by the President of India. They can also be removed or suspended by the President.

  • Their term of office is six years or until they attain the age of 62 years, whichever is earlier.

  • The President also determines their conditions of service.

  • Although appointed by the President, the annual report of a JSPSC is presented to the respective State Governors, who then lay it before the state legislature.

• Historical Context of Travancore Public Service Commission:

  • The Travancore Public Service Commission was established on June 14, 1936, by a Royal Proclamation issued by Maharaja Sree Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma.

  • This was a significant step towards a merit-based recruitment system in the princely state of Travancore.

  • Post-independence and the formation of Kerala state, the Travancore-Cochin Public Service Commission (formed by merging Travancore and Kochi PSCs) evolved into the present-day Kerala Public Service Commission (KPSC).

  • For competitive exams, note that Mysore was the first princely state to establish a Public Service Commission in 1919.

• Consultative Role of State Public Service Commissions (SPSCs):

  • Article 320 of the Indian Constitution outlines the functions of Public Service Commissions, which primarily involve consulting on matters related to recruitment, promotion, disciplinary actions, and conditions of service.

  • However, a crucial exception to their consultative role is on matters related to reservations for backward classes, Scheduled Castes, and Scheduled Tribes.

  • The Constitution explicitly states that SPSCs are not required to be consulted on the manner in which appointments are to be made or reservations are to be provided for these classes. This ensures that the state's policy on affirmative action can be implemented directly without the PSC's mandatory consultation.

• Appointment of Acting Chairman for SPSC:

  • According to Article 316(1A) of the Constitution, the Governor of the state is empowered to appoint one of the other members of the State Public Service Commission as an acting chairman.

  • This power is exercised when the office of the SPSC Chairman falls vacant or when the Chairman is unable to perform their duties due to absence or any other reason.

  • The acting chairman performs the duties until a new chairman is appointed or the original chairman resumes their office.

  • A similar provision exists for the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and Joint State Public Service Commissions, where the President holds this power.