Karnataka High Court sets up SIT to probe KPSC recruitment scam: 'a fraud upon the Constitution itself'

The Karnataka High Court constituted a Special Investigation Team to investigate afresh alleged malpractice in recruitments by the Karnataka Public Service Commission. The cases included recruitment to 400 posts of Veterinary Officers, complained of by a veterinary doctor and 24 other aggrieved candidates under Section 318(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Section 10 of the Karnataka Public Examination (Measures for Prevention of Corruption and Unfair Means in Recruitment) Act, 2023. Another complaint alleged that the Commission's Chairman had brought two of his daughters into a select list contrary to law.

Petitioners sought transfer of the investigation to the CBI. Justice M. Nagaprasanna described a Public Service Commission as 'a constitutional sentinel' guarding entry to public employment. He held that manipulating marks, tampering with OMR sheets or buying selections is 'a fraud upon the Constitution itself', striking at equality of opportunity under Articles 14 and 16.

Using its powers under Article 226, the Court took the investigation away from the CID and local police but, instead of the CBI, formed a five-member SIT headed by a Director General of Police. The SIT is to investigate de novo, follow the evidence beyond the persons named, cooperate with the Enforcement Directorate, report progress every 30 days and file its final report within 100 days. The matters return on 5 January 2027.