Bengaluru: The Supreme Court has reserved its order on a challenge to Karnataka high court’s refusal to entertain a 2022 PIL against a state law validating the recruitment of 362 gazetted probationers by Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) in 2011.A bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and Vinod Chandran said: “Arguments concluded, judgment reserved… As discussed, both sides shall file their respective affidavits, providing a break-up by Oct 26. In the facts of this case, we permit the applicants who are seeking impleadment/intervention in the present proceeding also to file a brief note in the applications pending as on date.”The govt had cancelled the recruitment in 2013 following CID reports of corruption and irregularities. Some selected candidates approached Karnataka Administrative Tribunal (KAT) and secured appointments. The HC subsequently set aside KAT’s order, a decision upheld by SC.In 2022, the state enacted a law validating the entire selection process. The HC dismissed a challenge to the legislation on April 21, 2022, observing that the petitioners had failed to establish that any provision was unconstitutional, illegal or void.The unsuccessful candidates then approached SC. Senior counsel Shyam Divan, appearing for the petitioners, argued that the recruitment was vitiated by irregularities. He submitted that 566 candidates had secured identical marks and that examination records were subsequently destroyed.Sahukar, Geeta sent to 14-day judicial custodyA special court in Bengaluru Monday remanded suspended KPSC chairperson Shivashankarappa Sahukar and member BV Geeta in judicial custody for 14 days.Enforcement Directorate had on Oct 6 arrested the two for alleged involvement in the job-for-cash scam. On Monday afternoon, ED sleuths produced Sahukar and Geeta before the special court and later took them to Bengaluru central prison in a police jeep.CID seeks sanction to prosecute IAS officerCID has sought govt sanction to prosecute suspended IAS officer Gangwar, arrested over his alleged involvement in leaking questions for a KPSC recruitment exam. The move follows SC’s recent direction to the SIT to continue its probe along the lines of the CID investigation.A senior CID officer said the latest law provides that if govt does not respond within 120 days, sanction is deemed granted.
