Will you go to SC against KPSC scam accused? HC asks govt

The High Court on Thursday asked the state government whether it will go to the Supreme Court against a ruling given by a single bench of the High Court quashing the proceedings against eight people accused of committing irregularities in the KPSC selection of gazetted probationers in 1998, 1999 and 2004. 

The government is yet to file a Special Leave Petition in the Supreme Court. A division bench of Justices N Kumar and B Veerappa asked the government as to why it hadn’t appealed against those charge-sheeted by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). 

Additional Advocate 
General Aditya Sondhi submitted that the CID had filed a strong FIR against the accused, who were members and officers of the KPSC during those years. 

The bench observed, “How can candidates with less marks be appointed to the said posts? These members will be serving the government for the next 30 years and how can (the) general public expect such candidates to do a good job and do good to the society? In many incidences of irregularities, the candidates who have secured first, second and third ranks are those who are related to members of the selection committee.” 

The bench sought to know if the government had put in place guidelines about evaluation of KPSC examination answer sheets. 

It also questioned the government about what relief it gave to candidates who were eligible but were not appointed as the matter had been pending in the court since 1998. 

Justice Kumar said the chairman and members of the commission who were appointed then had a criminal background and they were appointed the constitutional authority. 

“If such persons are appointed, then nobody can question them and it will become extremely difficult to make any changes in the system. Where should the common man go in such cases,” the bench demanded. 

It directed the government to spell out its stand in the next hearing on Friday.