GPSC Row: Opposition Demands Cancellation of Shishir Trivedi’s Interview Board Appointment

The opposition has demanded the immediate cancellation of Dr. Shishir Trivedi’s appointment as a non-official member of the Gujarat Public Service Commission (GPSC) interview board, alleging that the state government has turned an autonomous recruitment body into a “favoured-candidate selection commission”. The government has defended the appointments as an administrative necessity.

Trivedi is described as an active BJP worker. The controversy has erupted over the choice of members for the board, which selects Class 1 and Class 2 administrative officers.

Opposition Questions Party Loyalty Over Merit

The opposition has accused the BJP of placing party loyalty above merit by appointing party leaders rather than experts to the body responsible for the impartial selection of officers. It is alleged that Trivedi lists “Karyakarta: BJP” (BJP worker) on his social media profile. He is also said to be associated with the RSS and has previously served as chairman of the Bhavnagar Municipal Primary Education Committee.

After Trivedi posted photographs on Facebook showing him hoisting BJP flags, opposition leaders questioned whether candidates could expect fair treatment from an interview board member who climbs poles to put up party flags. The opposition’s criticism was that educated candidates would face injustice in such a situation.

Social Media Posts Draw Ridicule

Citing Trivedi’s social media posts, the opposition mocked him for writing “My life is my massage” instead of Mahatma Gandhi’s well-known words, “My life is my message”. Questions have also been raised about how Trivedi, who is said to have misspelled the Gujarati word for “Bharatiya” (Indian), would assess the writing and intellectual capabilities of future officers.

Government Cites Shortage of Members

The government has defended the appointments, saying a long-standing shortage of members at the GPSC had slowed down the interview and results process. To speed this up, it appointed seven members, including four IAS officers. Administrative experts, among them a retired bureaucrat and a retired engineer, have also been included.

The rules say one non-governmental member has to be appointed to represent the fields of public life and education. Trivedi was reportedly appointed in this category.

Transparency Concerns Remain

The induction of people with political backgrounds into the apex recruitment body has nonetheless raised questions about the Commission’s transparency and impartiality. The GPSC holds the key to the future of lakhs of educated, unemployed young people in the state. The issue could become a source of trouble for the government in the near future.