Karnataka High Court Ruling on KPSC Chairman’s Bail Plea
The Karnataka High Court has rejected the anticipatory bail application filed by Sahukar S Shivashankarappa, the suspended Chairman of the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC), in connection with the alleged recruitment scam involving veterinarians. This case, Sahukar S Shivashankarappa v. State of Karnataka, highlights serious allegations of recruitment malpractice within the KPSC.
Allegations Against Shivashankarappa
Shivashankarappa, alongside other KPSC officials, is accused of manipulating the recruitment process to advantage certain candidates, including relatives of KPSC officials. The trial court previously denied his anticipatory bail on August 11, pushing him to seek relief from the High Court.
Judge’s Concerns About Exam Integrity
Justice S Vishwajith Shetty, presiding over the case, emphasized the gravity of the allegations, noting the detrimental impact of such irregularities on public trust in examination processes. He cited instances where students have been driven to despair due to similar issues, such as NEET paper leaks, underscoring the necessity to halt these malpractices promptly.
Details of the Alleged Scam
The case revolves around alleged improprieties in the KPSC recruitment exam for 400 Veterinary Officer positions. Allegations include unusually high scores achieved by the relatives of KPSC officials, pre-examination access to question papers by some candidates, and tampering with OMR sheets. It is further alleged that middlemen promised candidates job placements for a hefty sum ranging from ₹70 to ₹80 lakhs, achieved by altering their OMR scores.
Legal Proceedings and Arguments
Shivashankarappa faces charges under Section 318 (cheating) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and provisions of the Karnataka Public Examinations (Measures for Prevention of Corruption and Unfair Means in Recruitment) Act, 2023. The trial court had initially denied his anticipatory bail due to the severe nature of the accusations, the necessity of custodial interrogation, and the risk of his potential influence on the investigation.
Senior Advocate Aruna M Shyam, representing Shivashankarappa, argued for bail citing his recent surgery, advanced age, and previously clean record. Shyam contended that media coverage had exaggerated the issue. However, Public Prosecutor BN Jagadeesha, representing the State, opposed any bail, asserting that Shivashankarappa had exploited the system.
Further Developments
After assessing the arguments, the High Court refused to grant pre-arrest bail. Shivashankarappa had been suspended from his post on July 10 by the Governor of Karnataka amid corruption allegations. Although the High Court initially quashed this suspension due to procedural lapses under Article 317 of the Constitution, the Governor, following the State Cabinet’s recommendation, reissued the suspension. The senior-most officer at KPSC has since assumed the role of acting chairperson.
