Bengaluru, 22 September (H.S.)

Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Tuesday said the government was consulting legal experts on the possibility of closing the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) within the legal framework amid increasing allegations of irregularities in the commission.

Speaking to the media after the 50th Foundation Day celebrations of KEONICS, Shivakumar alleged that some unscrupulous persons had entered the KPSC and that even officials selected on the basis of trust were getting involved in such activities. He alleged that some members had “opened a shop” at the commission.

He said state police officials had collected documents related to the matter and that the details would eventually come to light.

Government should have been given freedom to appoint investigators

Welcoming the High Court's direction to constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the KPSC case, Shivakumar said the Enforcement Directorate (ED) was also conducting an investigation.

He said the state police department was also conducting the investigation effectively. If necessary, the court could have monitored the manner in which the state police was conducting the probe, he said.

“Directing an SIT probe is fine, but the state government should have been given the freedom to appoint the investigating officers,” Shivakumar said.

He added that he had received calls from Delhi and other states regarding the issue and would seek the opinion of legal experts.

The Chief Minister said the future of students was important and that this was one of the reasons why Siddaramaiah had reduced the number of members in the KPSC during his tenure.

Shivakumar said that even after selecting officials transparently and entrusting them with responsibilities on the basis of trust, such incidents occurring within the commission was a matter of concern.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Rakesh Mahadevappa