Explain steps taken to revise KPSC selection lists: SC

The Supreme Court on Friday asked the Karnataka government to explain steps taken by it to implement its order relating to revision of the merit list of gazetted officers selected by the KPSC in 1998, 1999 and 2004 batches in view of large-scale irregularities found in the recruitment process.

A bench of Justices R F Nariman and Indu Malhotra issued a notice to the state government on an application filed by Khaleel Ahamed K R and others.

The applicants, represented by senior advocate Sidharth Luthra and advocate Sahil Bhalaik, contended that even after a period of 20 years, the perpetrators of the crime who not only defrauded the government but have also played a fraud on the court continued to enjoy the benefits of public employment.

The top court had on April 11 rejected a batch of petitions, challenging the High Court of Karnataka’s direction, passed on a PIL, to revise the selection list of 1998, 1999 and 2004 batches.

Though Karnataka government had expressed its willingness to act on the basis of a fact-finding inquiry and the CID report, it was beyond comprehension as to why they were not complying with the orders of the high court that were passed in 2016, the applicants said.

“The petitioners have been running from pillar to post in all these years and there was no clarity on the selection procedure or the promotions so far,” they contended.

They sought direction to the Karnataka government to withdraw and recover any benefit given by way of appointment and promotions to the IAS, IPS to such candidates and implement the directions of the high court in a time-bound manner.

They also urged the court to direct the high court and the Karnataka Administrative Tribunal to dispose of all other pleas related to the matter.