The Supreme Court has temporarily stayed the Karnataka High Court's order to create a Special Investigation Team (SIT) and conduct a new investigation into the alleged irregularities in the recruitment of Veterinary Officers in KPSC by the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC). This came after the Karnataka government challenged the High Court’s September 21 decision, which had directed the Commission to conduct a de novo investigation into the recruitment process.
A bench of Justices Manoj Misra and Vijay Bishnoi issued notice on the State government’s plea and sought responses from the original petitioners before October 12. The Supreme Court has also ordered the Karnataka government to submit an additional affidavit in a sealed cover detailing any objections it has to the officers named for the SIT. The State has been allowed to suggest alternative names for the investigation team.
The interim stay is for the parts of the High Court order on the constitution of the SIT and the direction for a de novo investigation. The Supreme Court has not, at this stage, yet decided whether the High Court's directions should be restored or modified.
Karnataka Government Challenges High Court's SIT Direction
On September 21, the Karnataka High Court had ordered the formation of an SIT while hearing a batch of petitions concerning alleged irregularities in the recruitment of 400 Veterinary Officers and other KPSC examinations. Justice M Nagaprasanna ordered a new investigation instead of transferring the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
The High Court’s order had moved the investigation away from the CID probe. The proposed SIT was headed by senior IPS officer Alok Kumar and was given 100 days to complete its investigation, with progress reports to be submitted periodically. The court also directed the transfer of relevant records and evidence to the new team.
The Karnataka government challenged the order in the Supreme Court. The state argued that the CID was already investigating the allegations and that the probe was close to completion.
State Questions Need For De Novo Investigation
In the Supreme Court hearing, senior advocate Kapil Sibal was representing the Karnataka government. The State said the CID investigation had not been found deficient in a manner that would justify replacing it with a fresh investigation.
The government also questioned the process through which the High Court picked members of the proposed SIT. One of the State's objections involved the inclusion of Alok Kumar as the head of the team. The State also referred to concerns about Kumar that it said had arisen in connection with a different CBI investigation.
In both cases, the arguments were whether a fresh investigation was needed when a state agency was already investigating the allegations. The Supreme Court’s interim order now gives the State an opportunity to place its objections to the proposed SIT members formally before the court.
Respondents Defend High Court's Decision
The respondents before the Supreme Court opposed the State government's challenge to the SIT arrangement. Senior advocate K Parameshwar, who filed for the respondents, pointed out that the original proceedings before the High Court had included a request for a CBI investigation.
He also questioned the State’s opposition to an SIT with state police officers. According to the respondents’ submissions, the government should not be able to determine the composition of an investigation team ordered by the High Court.
The respondents also claimed that the State had not yet notified the SIT and transferred the relevant records in accordance with the High Court’s directions. The Supreme Court will now consider the competing arguments after receiving the State’s additional affidavit and responses from the original petitioners.
Allegations Concern Recruitment Of 400 Veterinary Officers
The case relates to the KPSC recruitment process for 400 Veterinary Officer posts. There are allegations of irregularities after the recruitment process and the Karnataka CID investigated.
The Karnataka government had handed the matter over to the CID in July after KPSC declared the final selection list for the 400 posts. At this time, there were allegations of recruitment fraud and irregularity in the selection process.
The High Court then considered petitions filed by several parties, including candidates and organisations, and ordered a fresh investigation through an SIT. The court declined to hand the investigation over to the CBI but directed a separate state-level team to conduct the de novo probe.
There is also scrutiny from other investigating agencies. Recent reports have mentioned two separate investigations of alleged question paper leaks and financial transactions linked to the recruitment process. These are allegations under investigation and do not by themselves establish wrongdoing by everyone involved with the recruitment.
What Happens Next In The KPSC Case?
The Supreme Court's interim order means that the Karnataka High Court's directions for the SIT and de novo investigation remain on hold for now. The next important date in the proceedings is October 12, when responses from the original petitioners are expected and the State is required to place its objections to the proposed SIT members before the Supreme Court.
The State may also suggest alternative names for the investigation team. This gives the Supreme Court the opportunity to weigh the State government’s concerns and the petitioners’ arguments before deciding how the investigation should proceed.
The Supreme Court’s new order does not, of course, end the KPSC recruitment saga, and for some candidates and others in the KPSC recruitment battle, the Supreme Court’s new move does not put an end to the allegations in question for the case. But it does not necessarily end the investigation but rather delays it temporarily while it considers the State’s challenge to the Karnataka High Court’s September 21 directions.
The final outcome will decide whether the SIT ordered by the High Court is ultimately formed, whether its composition is modified, or whether the current investigation continues. The allegations of KPSC recruitment are being investigated and judicial proceedings are pending until the Supreme Court makes a decision.
