Last year, one in every seven requests to overturn decisions by selection boards vetting applications to fill vacant posts within the public service were upheld by the Public Service Commission.

During the same period the watchdog recommended the precautionary suspension of 19 civil servants pending the outcome of criminal court cases launched in due course, while there were three recommendations for dismissal following a guilty verdict by the courts.

Details on the PSC’s activities for 2017 were divulged in the annual report recently tabled in Parliament.

Established in 1960, the constitutional body has the remit of advising the Prime Minister on matters related to appointments, promotions, removal from office and discipline within the Public Service.

It transpires that last year the commission received 216 “petitions” in respect of the results obtained by individuals who felt aggrieved by the outcome of a selection process for a vacant post. 

Nine of these requests were immediately disqualified as they were not submitted within the 10-day timeframe for appointments and promotions.

The report notes that another nine instances were not investigated further, though no reason was given for this. 

From the remaining 198 petitions, 30 were upheld and revised results drawn up and re-published, while 157 requests were rejected. Another 11 petitions were still pending, as at December 31, 2017.

The PSC is also vested with the authority to issue recommendations in relation to public officers who are criminally charged before a court. Last year, 51 recommendations were made, of which 19 were for precautionary suspension pending the outcome of a court case.

On the other hand, there were seven calls for lifting such sanctions prior to the conclusion of proceedings.

The data also shows that three recommendations were made for dismissal following a guilty verdict, but there were also five instances where the PSC made a request for the refund of the salary withheld during the precautionary suspension, in the wake of a “not-guilty” verdict by the courts.

Apart from measures in connection with criminal charges, there were also 58 instances where separate disciplinary action was taken by heads of department.

While the majority of these cases were still pending by the end of last year, eight public officers were slapped with a suspension from duty without pay for five days and another eight given a written warning. There were also 14 investigations which were discontinued and nine which resulted in a not guilty verdict. 

In 2017, a civil servant was dismissed after not reporting for work for 10 consecutive days, in line with PSC regulations.