BENGALURU: Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot suspended KPSC Chairman Shivashankarappa Sahukar on July 13 with immediate effect amid allegations of misuse of office, nepotism and recruitment irregularities. The Governor recommended a formal inquiry and referred the case to the President under Article 317(1) of the Constitution.
The Raj Bhavan order states Sahukar will stay suspended until the inquiry ends or further orders are issued. The senior-most KPSC member will handle chairman duties to maintain uninterrupted operations.
The move follows multiple complaints of favouritism, abuse of position and manipulation of recruitment rules. An FIR was recently filed against Sahukar’s daughter, Suma S Sahukar, at Vidhana Soudha Police Station. She is accused of using forged income and caste certificates to claim reservation benefits for an Industrial Extension Officer post.
Raj Bhavan described the charges as serious and called for an independent probe. It noted allegations that Sahukar facilitated false certificates for his daughter to gain quota benefits.
The Governor invoked Article 317(1), which allows the President to refer such cases to the Supreme Court before deciding on removal. Pending inquiry, the Governor suspended Sahukar from office.
The KPSC handles state government recruitments, so any controversy involving its leadership affects the credibility of the process. The case has renewed concerns about fairness in public hiring amid past delays and disputes.
Investigators are checking whether false certificates were used deliberately and if influence was misused. Legal experts say the constitutional reference underscores the gravity of the allegations. The Supreme Court may conduct an inquiry if the President refers the matter.
The suspension will affect KPSC operations, though the acting chairman appointment aims to ensure continuity. Focus now shifts to the inquiry outcome and possible Supreme Court involvement, with potential implications for the chairman and state recruitment reforms.
