Rejecting KPSC selection list pre-planned, alleges HDK

JD(S) leader and former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy on Sunday alleged that the sequence of events prior to the State Cabinet rejecting final candidates selected by the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) for the post of Group A and B gazetted probationers notified in 2011 indicated that the government decision was pre-planned.

Posing several questions to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Kumaraswamy charged that the government’s contention that the list had been rejected based on CID report was just an eye-wash as it had anyway decided to scrap the list several months back.

To substantiate his allegation, Kumaraswamy contended that the Advocate General in his opinion to the government in June 2013 had recommended that the list of selected candidates be withheld. The opinion was rendered after one candidate Dr H P S Mythri complained that she had been receiving calls urging her to pay up Rs 70 lakh if she has to pass the interview stage.

Kumaraswamy said the AG had advised the government to order a comprehensive inquiry into the entire process of selection including the conduct of written examination and viva-voce through an agency like the CBI. “Did the government seek the AG’s opinion and on what basis did the AG come to his conclusion,” Kumaraswamy sought to know.

He also sought an answer from the government on the ground for writing a letter to the KPSC on October 15, 2013 that it re-conduct the written and viva-voce exams. He also sought to know from the government on how it could take a decision on rejecting the list when the entire issue was before the court. Kumaraswamy charged that Dr Mythri had not filed her complaint immediately after completing her interview but had waited several days before registering her grievance. He sought to know the reasons for the delay.

Speaking to reporters in Bangalore, Minister of State for Food and Civil Supplies Dinesh Gundu Rao said there was no possibility of the government going back on its decision. The Cabinet had taken the decision after taking all aspects into consideration, he said.