Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot suspended Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) Chairman Shivashankarappa S Sahukar on Monday over allegations his daughters secured government jobs through fraudulent means. The suspension, effective immediately, aims to ensure an unbiased investigation into the claims.
Allegations of Fraud in KPSC Recruitment
Complaints allege Sahukar facilitated the unlawful selection of his two daughters in the KPSC recruitment process. Despite their candidacy, he neither recused himself nor disclosed a conflict of interest, according to the Governor’s Secretariat.
An FIR was registered against one daughter, Suma, for allegedly obtaining income and caste certificates by declaring the family’s annual income as Rs 40,000. Investigators claim she used these documents to claim OBC reservation and creamy layer exemption, suppressing material facts. A 2002 Karnataka government order bars children of Public Service Commission chairmen from availing backward class quotas.
Governor Seeks Supreme Court Inquiry
The Governor has recommended a presidential reference to the Supreme Court to investigate Sahukar’s conduct under constitutional provisions governing the removal of Public Service Commission members.
Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge stated the incident had deepened public distrust in recruitment agencies. He called for reforms, citing similar controversies in NEET and CBSE exams, and emphasized the need for collective action to improve Public Service Commissions nationwide.
