3 hrs ago
Karnataka CM Explores Shutting KPSC Amid Recruitment Scam Probe
Karnataka is investigating allegations that people helped manipulate government job recruitments.
The case involves recruitment for veterinary doctors and possibly other government posts.
The High Court ordered a special team of police officers to investigate the matter.
The court said the team should finish its main investigation in 100 days.
Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar questioned whether the court could choose the officers itself.
He said the government is seeking legal advice about that issue.
He also said the government is considering whether to close the Karnataka Public Service Commission.
The government says protecting students and job applicants is important.
Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar said Karnataka is consulting legal experts on whether the KPSC can be shut down.
His remarks followed a Karnataka High Court order creating an SIT to investigate alleged irregularities in veterinary officer recruitment.
Shivakumar questioned whether the court could name specific police officers for the SIT, saying officer selection should belong to the government.
The SIT was directed to take over case records from the CID, complete its probe in 100 days and submit periodic reports.
Investigators have reported a money trail, alleged middlemen involvement and official participation in manipulating recruitment, including ₹1.5 crore linked to IAS officer Gyanendra Kumar.
- Who
- Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, the Karnataka High Court, the CID and a court-ordered Special Investigation Team are involved; the case also concerns KPSC officials, candidates and intermediaries.
- What
- An SIT will investigate alleged irregularities and a suspected recruitment scam involving the Karnataka Public Service Commission, while the government explores legal options to shut down the commission.
- Where
- The statements were made in Bengaluru, and the investigation concerns recruitment conducted by the Karnataka Public Service Commission.
- When
- Shivakumar made the comments on Tuesday; the High Court issued its SIT direction on Monday and set a 100-day investigation period.
- Why
- The action follows allegations of question-paper leaks, recruitment manipulation, illegal payments and involvement by officials and intermediaries.
Karnataka Government
Karnataka High Court
Authority to choose investigators
Karnataka Government
D.K. Shivakumar questioned whether the court could name specific police officers and said the choice should have been left to the government.
Karnataka High Court
The High Court directed the government to notify an SIT with named officers and required the CID to transfer its case records to that team.
Future of the KPSC
Karnataka Government
The government is exploring whether the constitutional commission can be shut down, citing alleged collusion and concerns about the future of students and job applicants.
Karnataka High Court
The court's reported action focuses on investigating alleged recruitment irregularities through an SIT rather than closing the commission.
Handling of the investigation
Karnataka Government
The government had the CID investigating the case and questioned the court's intervention in selecting investigators.
Karnataka High Court
The court declined to transfer the case to the CBI and instead ordered an SIT with a 100-day deadline and periodic reporting.
Key facts
- Commission under review
- The government is consulting legal experts on whether the Karnataka Public Service Commission can be shut down.
- Investigation body
- The Karnataka High Court ordered a Special Investigation Team to investigate the alleged recruitment irregularities.
- Investigation deadline
- The SIT was directed to complete the probe in 100 days and submit progress reports periodically.
- Previous investigation
- The CID was investigating the case and was directed to hand over its records to the SIT.
- Alleged money trail
- The CID reportedly traced a ₹1.5 crore money trail linked to IAS officer Gyanendra Kumar.
- Recruitment involved
- The allegations initially concern recruitment of veterinary doctors; discrepancies were also reported in earlier Assistant Executive Engineer recruitment.
- SIT leadership
- The court order named Alok Kumar as head, with Divya V. Gopinath, Anup A. Shetty, Kushal Chouksey and Kshama Mishra as members.
Quotes
D.K. Shivakumar
Karnataka Chief Minister
“We have to think legally. The way action is initiated against the President of India or High Court judges, has a procedure. Similarly, action has to be initiated according to the procedure here. That is why we are thinking legally.”
thehansindia.com
“If the Court is not happy with the way the investigation is being conducted, they are well within their rights to ask the government to form an SIT or even monitor the present investigation or call for the records.”
freepressjournal.in
Sources
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