Lokayukta to probe irregularities in recruitment to Co-op Bank

The State government on Friday ordered a Lokayukta inquiry into recruitment of 102 clerk-cum-cashiers to the Karnataka State Co-operative Apex Bank Limited, made earlier this month, following complaints of irregularities.

Law Minister Suresh Kumar made the announcement on behalf of Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar in the Legislative Assembly while replying to a call attention notice submitted by H C Balakrishna (JD-S).

Suresh Kumar said the appointments made would be put on hold till the completion of the inquiry process. The Co-operation portfolio is with Shettar after B J Puttaswamy was dropped from the Cabinet in December last year.

Balakrishna pointed out that several candidates who had scored poorly in the written examination held for the recruitment process had received the appointment letters. On the other hand, a candidate who had secured first place in the written examination had failed to make it to the final list. “There are gross irregularities in the entire process. Injustice has been done to hundreds of merit candidates,” Balakrishna said.

Suresh Kumar admitted that there seems to be prima facie evidence of irregularities which necessitated the Lokayukta inquiry. The Bank had invited applications for the 102 posts of clerk-cum-cashiers in May last year.

As many as 5,106 appeared for the written test. The interviews were held during the last week of January. The final selection list was prepared by assigning a weightage of 75 per cent for written test marks and 25 for interview marks. Appointment orders were issued on February 2 and the selected candidates had reported for duty, Suresh Kumar said.