Ranchi, Dec. 3: Governor Syed Sibtey Razi has cleared the way for the state government to seek a Supreme Court probe against Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) member Gopal Prasad Singh who has been accused of favouring at least 17 relatives or friends during appointments of civil servants and lecturers.

Sources said the governor’s office approved the state’s proposal to seek the President’s nod for ordering the probe against Singh in the third week of November after the Shibu Soren government decided to pursue the matter, first moved by the former Madhu Koda government.

R.S.Sharma, who was holding charge of the personnel department during Koda’s tenure, has confirmed that he had sent a proposal against Singh to the governor after receiving a bunch of complaints against him.

Singh could not be contacted for comment.

The governor’s approval comes in the backdrop of Raj Bhavan receiving a representation from the University Grants Commission (UGC) seeking his intervention in the JPSC’s appointments of 239 civil servants and 1,044 lecturers, at least 36 of whom were said to be relatives or friends of senior JPSC members and politicians.

Apart from Singh, those under cloud for allegedly influencing the appointments are JPSC chairman Dilip Prasad and members Shanti Devi and Radha Govind Nagesh (now retired).

Among politicians who figure in the appointments controversy are state human resource development minister Bandhu Tirkey, former home minister Sudesh Mahto and JD(U) MLA Radha Krishna Kishore.

The JPSC has been riddled with accusations of favouritism in several appointments. Most recently, the results of the “limited competitive examinations” held for recruiting deputy collectors from government employees had to be withheld after the police special branch cried foul. In fact, the governor has now asked the state to order an inquiry into the conduct of the exams by an independent agency and take necessary action.

Sacking a commission member for corruption involves an elaborate process. According to the Constitution, a commission member can be removed or penalised only after the Supreme Court conducts an inquiry on a presidential reference that has to be first okayed by the governor and then sent by the state government.

The governor is also empowered to suspend a member until the President issues orders based on the report of the Supreme Court.

Razi is now said to be holding legal parleys on his next course of action. Last week, he summoned JPSC chairman Dilip Prasad for a meeting.

The state’s personnel secretary, J.B. Tubid, has confirmed that the government had received the governor’s directive on the proposed Supreme Court probe against Singh and would take necessary action soon.