KPSC selection: Plea in HC seeks fresh interviews

An interlocutory application (IA) has been filed before the High Court of Karnataka, seeking directions to Karnataka State Public Service Commission (KPSC) to hold interviews afresh in the controversy-ridden 2011 batch of gazetted probationers.

The Supreme Court had upheld the cancellation of the interview process, but referred the matter to the high court to examine whether there were any irregularities in the main examination. The high court had set aside the entire selection process.

The IA filed by Maj Santosh Kumar, one of the candidates selected as assistant commissioner (Commercial taxes), has requested for a fresh interview. The IA stated that the CID investigation had found that the interview marks for 46 candidates were manipulated. It has been contended in the IA that the final report and the subsequent charge sheet filed by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) were solely in respect to the interview stage of the selection process and does not in any manner deal with the main examination.

The main issues revealed in the CID probe was that the interview marks were not awarded on the basis of merit and performance and records of security systems such as CCTV footage were manipulated.

"It was brought to the notice of the Supreme Court that the written examination was not vitiated. The SC in its order stated that if high court finds that the written examination is free from any blemish, then the high court may consider restoration of the result of the written examination and direct that interviews be conducted again,'' Santhosh said. The apex court had also stated that it was open to the high court to direct for a revaluation of answer scripts of all the candidates or to sustain the cancellation of the result of the written examination so that fresh selection can be held.