2 hrs ago
Supreme Court Stays Karnataka HC Order for Fresh KPSC Probe
The Supreme Court temporarily stopped part of a Karnataka High Court order.
The order had created a special team to investigate possible problems in hiring 400 veterinary officers.
The Karnataka government said its existing CID investigation was almost finished.
It also questioned some choices for the new team.
The people who originally brought the case supported the new investigation.
They said the government had not officially created the team or handed over the evidence.
The Supreme Court asked the parties to respond by October 12.
It will then consider whether the investigation should continue in its current form.
The Supreme Court stayed key directions for an SIT and de novo probe into alleged KPSC recruitment irregularities.
The case concerns recruitment of 400 veterinary officers and allegations involving other KPSC recruitments.
The Karnataka government said the CID investigation was nearly complete and opposed restarting the probe.
Respondents supported an SIT, arguing the State had not notified it or transferred relevant records.
The High Court had named five officers for the SIT and required a report within 100 days.
- Who
- The Supreme Court, the Karnataka government, the original High Court petitioners, and the Karnataka Public Service Commission are involved.
- What
- The Supreme Court stayed provisions requiring an SIT and a de novo probe into alleged KPSC recruitment irregularities.
- Where
- The proceedings concern the Karnataka High Court and Karnataka Public Service Commission in Karnataka, with the Supreme Court hearing the challenge in New Delhi.
- When
- The Karnataka High Court issued its order on September 21; the Supreme Court issued its stay on Thursday and set October 12 for responses.
- Why
- The Karnataka government challenged the fresh probe, saying the CID investigation was nearly complete and that specific allegations against its investigators were absent.
Support for Fresh SIT Probe
Opposition to Fresh Probe
Need for a new investigation
Support for Fresh SIT Probe
The respondents supported an SIT and said the original request had sought a CBI investigation; they also argued that the State should not control the team's composition.
Opposition to Fresh Probe
The Karnataka government said the CID investigation was nearly complete and that there were no specific allegations against the CID officers requiring a de novo probe.
SIT composition
Support for Fresh SIT Probe
The High Court selected a team of state police officers and directed the government to notify it and transfer evidence from the CID and jurisdictional police.
Opposition to Fresh Probe
The State objected that the High Court selected members without seeking its suggestions and questioned the inclusion of Alok Kumar, citing a separate CBI probe concerning phone interception and tapping.
Implementation of the High Court order
Support for Fresh SIT Probe
The respondents said the State had not notified the SIT or transferred relevant records despite the High Court's directions.
Opposition to Fresh Probe
The Supreme Court allowed the State to submit sealed-cover objections to the proposed members and suggest alternative names while considering the challenge.
Key facts
- Recruitment under scrutiny
- Selection of 400 veterinary officers by the Karnataka Public Service Commission
- High Court order
- Issued September 21, directing an SIT and a de novo investigation
- Supreme Court action
- Stayed paragraphs 34(i) and 34(ii) concerning the SIT and fresh probe
- Next deadline
- Responses from original petitioners are due by October 12
- Proposed SIT head
- Alok Kumar, Director General and Inspector General of Prisons
- Investigation timeline
- The High Court required an investigation report within 100 days and progress reports every 30 days
- Related arrests
- KPSC registrar Gyanendra Kumar Gangwar and middleman Basavaraj Kannale were arrested
Quotes
Supreme Court bench of Justices Manoj Misra and Vijay Bishnoi
The Supreme Court bench hearing the Karnataka government’s challenge to the High Court’s SIT order
“In the meantime, the directions in paragraph 34(i) and 34(ii) shall remain stayed. Issue notice returnable on October 12. By the next date, the state shall submit in sealed cover delineating the objections, if any, against the members of the SIT constituted under the order of the high court and may suggest alternative names for the SIT”
deccanchronicle.com
Sources
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