HC put our future at stake, KAS officers tell Apex Court

A group of Karnataka Administrative Service (KAS) officers selected by the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) in 1998, 1999 and 2004 batches on Wednesday contended before the Supreme Court that the high court has reopened their recruitment process, putting their future and service at stake.

Senior advocate K V Vishwanathan submitted before a three-judge bench presided over by Chief Justice Dipak Misra that the High Court of Karnataka by its order had caused modification of marks of the candidates, though they have served at various positions for more than 10 years.

The high court had on June 21, 2016 ordered for revising the list and unsettled the selection, thereby modifying the apex court's judgement in this regard in 2005, he said.

Senior advocate Basava Prabhu Patil, also representing the selected officers, submitted that there were several facets of the controversy which have to be examined. The high court has converted writ petitions of unsuccessful candidates and converted them into a PIL, even though the Karnataka Administrative Tribunal (KAT) had rejected their plea.

The bench, also comprising Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud, heard the matter for a brief period in between the day-long hearing on PILs related to validity of Aadhaar.

The court put the matter for further consideration on February 2. A committee headed by K K Mishra, the then Karnataka chief secretary had pointed to large number of irregularities in the examinations.

A CID report also showed bunglings in the recruitment process.

DH News Service