Recruitment scam: Karnataka CM weighs closing public service commission

Bengaluru: Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Tuesday said the government was examining closing down the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) amid allegations of series of irregularities in recruitment to government pots.

“There are rampant irregularities within the KPSC. I am consulting experts on how to close it down,” Shivakumar told reporters.

The statement comes amid investigations into alleged recruitment irregularities, including complaints of a job-for-money scam involving the recruitment of 400 veterinary officers.


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The Karnataka High Court on Monday formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the veterinary officers’ recruitment case and appointed DGP (Prisons and Correctional Services) Alok Kumar to head the team.

Shivakumar, while welcoming the high court decision, maintained that the state police were doing a good job and collected evidence in the case and that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) was also investigating.

He said the government would seek legal advice on the High Court’s order on SIT. He said the state government should have been given the option of deciding on the composition of SIT.

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“The future of our youth is paramount to us,” he said, adding that the government had appointed KPSC members through a transparent process but was disappointed by allegations of misconduct.

He also recalled his tenure as energy minister, saying he had overseen recruitment to 22,000 posts for linemen and engineers and had taken steps to prevent malpractice.

KPSC has faced scrutiny over recruitment processes in recent years, with allegations of irregularities raising concerns about the credibility of examinations and selection of candidates for government jobs.