Karnataka challenges high court order for SIT probe into KPSC job 'scams'

HC had constituted an SIT to probe the recruitment of 50 industrial extension officers, which saw the daughter of the KPSC chairman being selected in the results declared on June 10.

NEW DELHI: At a time when Congress is backing students' agitation seeking transparency in public examinations and accountability from the authorities, the Karnataka government has moved the Supreme Court, challenging the HC's Sept 21 decision to order an SIT probe into two tainted recruitment tests conducted by the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC).HC had constituted an SIT to probe the recruitment of 50 industrial extension officers, which saw the daughter of the KPSC chairman being selected in the results declared on June 10.This led to the governor suspending the KPSC chairman. In the recruitment of 400 veterinary officers, final selection results for which were declared on July 13, it was alleged that bribes of up to Rs 80 lakh were demanded by middlemen to provide candidates with answers, along with a promise to tamper with OMR sheets to ensure selection.

Appearing for the DK Shivakumar government, senior advocate Sidharth Luthra told a bench of CJI Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana that a "de novo" probe by the SIT may invalidate critical evidence - seized original OMR sheets, recovered digital devices, money in frozen bank accounts and arrest of conspirators - already collected by the state CID.Seeking a stay on the HC order and continuance of investigations by CID, the state said the HC directive "will jeopardise ongoing custody and bail proceedings. The CID has already arrested key figures, including Gyanendra Kumar, IAS (former KPSC controller of examinations), and Basavaraj Kannale (a key middleman who was detained at Delhi airport while attempting to flee the country)".The state also questioned the high court for directly selecting police officers for the SIT without consulting them.