From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore
Bangalore, Aug 12: Firmly defending the State Cabinet’s decision to scrap the final list of candidates recruited by the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) for the 2011 probationary officers as a step to rid the Constitutional body from the stink of corruption, Karnataka Law Minister T B Jayachandra contested former chief minister and JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy’s claim that the State Legislature alone was empowered to reject the KPSC decision.
In the same breath, however, Jayachandra immediately argued that KPSC was only a recruiting agency and it was the prerogative of the State Government either to accept or reject the final list submitted to the Government by the KPSC.
The minister ruled out reversing or modifying the Cabinet decision and contended the State Cabinet had examined all aspects of the case following the CID report, which probed the entire scam.
Jayachandra frowned upon the stand taken by Kumaraswamy and JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda, both of whom had served as chief ministers with the latter also being the prime minister, and held that they should know the legal position and implications far better.
''It is unfortunate that the two leaders, who have been former chief ministers, have been encouraging the agitators to go carry out a campaign against the State Cabinet decision and even joining their hunger strike,” he said.
While expressing sympathy with those affected by the cancellation of the final list submitted by the KPSC, he said the Sate Cabinet had taken care to protect their interests by even deciding to relax the recruitment age to enable them to appear for the fresh recruitment process.
''But we cannot help those who have paid bribes,” he said making it clear that those indulging in such unfair practices and malpractices should know better.
''We must also protect the interests of the innocent persons and also check corruption in the KPSC recruitment,” he declared adding: ''When a surgery is performed to remove a tumour or cancerous growth, some loss of blood and pain is inevitable.”
The Law Minister made it clear that the State Cabinet decision will be notified soon and the aggrieved parties and protestors were free to challenge the decision in the court. ''We will abide by the court decision, if and when the matter is challenged in the court,” he said.
Jayachandra said the State Government as fully confident of standing legal scrutiny in the court.
Stating that the KPSC is only a Recruitment agency, the minister said that no right whatsoever would confer on the selected candidates to claim for their appointment in the government.
While admitting that the CID in its interim report, has not pinpointed at any candidates for having paid huge sums to get the desired posts, the minister said there was little doubt that the entire KPSC system itself has been corroded with corruption.
''The State Government has been left with no alternative but to take measures to revamp the entire KPSC recruitment process,” he said it was difficult to identify the beneficiaries of the scam.
However, the State Government has taken prompt action against the then KPSC Chairman Gonal Bheemappa and member Mangala Sridhar after the CID report pinpointed their role in the scam.
Steps would be taken to prosecute not only the Chairman but all those involved in the scam and take necessary stringent action.
Answering a question, he said the State Government was ready abide by any decision of the High Court including referring the matter to the CBI for a comprehensive probe.