The Karnataka High Court on Monday directed the State to constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate into irregularities in the recruitment of veterinary doctors and several other posts by the Karnataka State Public Commission (KPSC) [Raj Mohammed v. State of Karnataka].
Justice M Nagaprasanna ordered the formation of the SIT without transferring the matter from the State Crime Investigation Department (CID) to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
Reasoning that the CBI has previously taken considerable time to conclude investigation, the Court emphasised on the urgency of restoring the sanctity of the constitutional promises of merit and equality.
"Every passing month may leave hundreds of aspirants suspended between hope and uncertainty; age limits may overtake some, other opportunities may disappear for others, and an entire recruitment may remain frozen in litigation. Justice to job aspirants cannot be rendered, after their opportunity itself has withered away," the Court said.
The Court constituted the SIT in a combined matter involving 3 criminal petitions and 2 writ petitions.
The writ petitioners are a veterinary doctor and a member of legislative assembly (MLA) who sought a CBI investigation into the KPSC recruitments.
The MLA's petition argued that the KPSC Chairman's daughters had secured selection to government jobs under Category 3B (a reserved category) while the Chairman himself was part of the selection process.
The criminal petitioners are KPSC candidates who were successful and included in a final select list, but found crimes registered against them by other unsuccessful KPSC candidates. They approached the High Court to quash the criminal complaints against them and restore the validity of the final select list.
The Court noted that the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) had registered cases under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA) based on the predicate offences. It directed cooperation between the SIT and the ED.
The SIT formed will be headed by Director General of Police Alok Kumar IPS. The team will comprise Director, Forensic Science Laboratory, Divya Gopinath IPS; Deputy Commissioner of Police Anup Shetty; Superintendent of Police Kushal Chouksay IPS; and Deputy Commissioner of Police Shama Mishra IPS.
The Court has directed the CID and the jurisdictional police to hand over all collected evidence to the SIT within a week of the order and cease further investigation. It further directed all departments, investigating agencies, public authorities and officers to extend complete cooperation and provide technical assistance or personnel to the SIT.
The SIT is required to place its final report before the Court within 100 days from the commencement of investigation and a progress report for every 30 days of investigation.
Criminal petitions to quash the crimes being investigated will be considered by the Court after the SIT's final report. The matter will be heard next on January 5, 2027.
Advocates Venkatesh Dalwai, Girish Bharadwaj, Ajit PB and Rajath appeared for the petitioners.
State Public Prosecutor BN Jagadeesha along with Advocate P Prasanna Kumar appeared for the State and the CBI respectively.
Advocate Prithveesh MK appeared for impleading applicants.
[Read Order]