CM defends decision to scrap probationer officers list

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah today defended the Cabinet decision to scrap the 2011 provisional list of gazetted probationary officers for group A and B services after a report found rampant corruption in the selection process.

"CID (Criminal Investigation Department) inquiry has been done in the KPSC (Karnataka Public Service Commission) case; CID in its report has said that the corruption has taken place. How can we completely deny an investigating agency's report about corruption," Siddaramaiah told reporters here.

He said government would have to work in the framework of law and added that the Law department had also suggested that the list submitted should not be accepted and the notification had to be withdrawn.

"We cannot accept the list by rejecting law department advice, advocate general's opinion and CID report," he added.

Prompted by a CID report about large scale malpractices, Karnataka Cabinet had yesterday scrapped the 2011 provisional list of gazetted probationary officers for group A and B services and ordered re-examination.

Government had ordered the CID inquiry into alleged irregularities after several candidates complained of rampant corruption during the selection process. Nearly one lakh candidates took the examination over three years ago.

Siddaramaiah said "despite knowing that corruption (had taken place), if we accept it, it will send wrong signal to the people. This decision was taken after carefully examining all the factors and discussing about it in detail."

"...those who have not been selected will also complain that justice has not been done to them, so we will have to take action as per the law and we have done accordingly," he added.

Meanwhile, selected candidates waiting for appointment who are staging a dharna for the past few weeks at Freedom Park, continued their protest. They have been demanding acceptance of KPSC's final list of 362 candidates.
Protestors raised slogans against the cabinet's decision, and demanded Siddaramaiah meet them.

Former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, who met protestors today said ".....I will request government to shed its prestige, government is for delivering justice, but in the name of delivering justice they have done injustice to these candidates."

Stating that this fight is not just of three hundred odd candidates, he said "..... Why didn't government wait for court verdict on the matter? Why did the government take the decision hurriedly....?"