The Public Service Commission (PSC) was established under Basutoland Order in Council of 1962, and began its existence on 1st June 1963, as an advisory body to the High Commissioner.

Its members were appointed by the High Commissioner and their tenure of office was upon such terms and conditions prescribed under regulations of the Basutoland order in Council, 1962. However, the High commissioner had the power to terminate the appointment of any member of the Commission at any time.

As an advisory body to the High commissioner, its mandate was to provide some advice to him on any matter referred to it, relating to the appointment (including promotion or transfer) or termination of appointment or to dismissal. During this period the Commission did not enjoy any powers of decision making except to advise the High Commissioner, who was not required to act in accordance with the advice given to him by the Commission.

From 1966, the Public Service Commission was conferred with the executive powers by the Independence Constitution of 1966. However, the political problems drew it into a collision course with the new government which ended setting it up as an advisory body again.

In January 1970, the 1966 Constitution was suspended, because of the declaration of state of emergency. Following on the suspension of the Constitution the Commission suspended its meetings and all business and did not meet again until July 1970.

When it resumed its duties in July 1970, it was reconstituted as an advisory body, but now, providing advice to Minister, responsible for Public Service (i.e. the Prime Minister).

The mandate of the Commission was to appoint persons to hold or act in offices in the public service(including powers to confirm appointments), and the power to exercise disciplinary control over persons holding or acting in such offices and the power to remove such persons from office, under Public service Order of 1970.

In 1993, following the March 27th General Elections, which gave way to the enactment of the new Constitution, the Commission regained its executive powers to date. It is an independent institution, established under the provisions of Section 136(1) of the 1993 Constitution of Lesotho, which states thus: "There shall be a Public Service Commission which shall consist of a Chairman and not less than two or more than four other members, who shall be appointed by the King acting in accordance with the advice of the Judicial Service Commission"

This has been the position of the Commission since 1993. However, there is a slight change in the mandate because contrary to the position of the Commission from 1962, now the powers to discipline and terminate the appointment of public officers for disciplinary reasons, is vested in the Heads of Departments.