KAS may follow UPSC way

Govt planning to revamp recruitment policy

 
The government is planning to revamp the system on the lines of recruitment conducted by the Union Public Service Commission for the civil services. The Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) holds recruitment to the KAS. The selection process involves a preliminary test, main examination and a personality test. The recruitment of gazetted probationers in recent years has been controversial.

The candidates who were selected for the 1998 batch got posting orders only in 2005, thanks to complaints of irregularities. Thereafter, recruitments were held in 1999, 2002, 2005, 2006 and 2008.

Those who applied in 2008 are awaiting the main examination results. As there were no recruitments at regular intervals, the Government had to run the show despite a large number of vacancies at senior levels. It proposed putting an end to this by amending the Karnataka Recruitment of Gazetted Probationers (Appointment by Competitive Examinations) Rule, 1997.

The Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms has already published the draft rules amending the rule. Rule 4 of the existing Act says recruitment “shall be at such intervals as the Government may decide”. The draft rule proposes to replace the statement by “shall be held every year”.

The rule has been published in the State gazette dated September 10, 2009. Those with a bachelor’s degree or an equivalent qualification are eligible to apply for the preliminary examination. The department has also decided to allow those who have appeared for the qualifying exam to apply.

The proposed amendment to Rule 7 of the Act says: “Candidates, who have appeared for an examination, the passing of which would render them educationally qualified for the preliminary examination conducted by the commission, but the results of which have not been declared, are also eligible for admission to preliminary examination”. However, such candidates have to produce the proof of passing the requisite examination along with their application for the main examination.

In the case of students pursuing professional courses, those who have taken the examination, not the internship, will be allowed to appear for the preliminary examination. But they have to provide proof for passing the final examination along with the application. Later, while appearing for the personality test, they will have to submit the degree certificate. The department will publish the final notification after verifying the objections, if any.