Karnataka PSC Chairman Suspended Over Irregular Inclusion of Daughters in Recruitment List

Bengaluru: The Governor of Karnataka has suspended the Chairman of the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC), Shivashankarappa S Sahukar, over allegations that his two daughters were illegally included in the PSC rank list for the post of Industrial Extension Officer.

Disciplinary action was initiated after it was alleged that his daughter Suma was included under the reservation quota, while his other daughter Anuradha was included under the general category. The Governor has also recommended to the President that the matter be referred to the Supreme Court.

The irregularity came to light after a PSC Assistant Secretary found that Suma had submitted a false income certificate claiming her family's annual income was only ₹40,000 in order to avail reservation benefits.

Following a complaint by the PSC Secretary, the police registered a case. Union Minister Prahlad Joshi subsequently wrote to the Governor and the Chief Minister seeking an inquiry into the irregularities in the recruitment process.

The investigation that followed reportedly uncovered the fraud.

Meanwhile, at a meeting held on the 4th of the month, Karnataka PSC members decided to exclude the chairman from commission meetings. A resolution passed by the commission seeking his resignation has, however, been temporarily stayed by the High Court.