From Our Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Mar 2: The State Cabinet has at last given its green signal for recruitment of all 362 gazetted probationers of Group A and B belonging to the 2011 batch finalised by the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC).

The State Cabinet, which met under Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in the chair on Wednesday, accepted the Karnataka Administrative Tribunal (KAT) order that quashed the state government’s order annulling selection of 362 candidates.

KAT had directed the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DPAR) to issue appointment orders to candidates in October 2016.

Today’s decision of the State Cabinet is considered as a major victory for JD(S) leader and former Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy, who had steadfastly fought against the State Government’s order and supported the cause of the candidates.

Rejection was due to ‘rampant corruption’

The Siddaramaiah Government, had in August 2014, rejected the final list announced by the KPSC on March 21 for 362 posts of gazetted probationers of Group A and B belonging to the 2011 batch.

Citing “rampant corruption” in the selection of candidates, the State Cabinet in 2014 had rejected the list of appointments.

The State Government had decided not to support corruption in the recruitment to gazetted posts in justification of its step.

The State Cabinet meeting presided over by Chief Minister Siddaramaiahon August 7, 2014, discussed the final list submitted to the government by the KPSC and unanimously rejected it.

It was decided to issue advertisements afresh to hold the examination and also to grant age relaxation to all candidates to reappear for the examination.

Over a lakh candidates wrote the test

Over one lakh candidates of the 2011 batch had written the examination.

Briefing reporters after the State Cabinet meeting, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister TB Jayachandra said the list was rejected owing to “rampant corruption” in the selection of candidates.

Terming the decision on rejection as “historic,” he had said the State Government had decided not to support corruption in the recruitment to gazetted posts.

CID probe confirms malpractices

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) conducted a probe and submitted a 26-page report to the government highlighting the malpractices in the examination system.

The Karnataka Administrative Tribunal on July 2 vacated the stay on the final list announced by the KPSC, paving the way for the State Government to take the decision.

It may be recalled that the State Cabinet had deferred its decision on the issue three times before.

“The State Government is convinced and the Cabinet is also fully convinced. It is beyond doubt that corruption has happened and we don’t want to encourage it,” he said.

The minister made it clear that that the examination would be conducted in future as per the PC Hota committee recommendations, which have been accepted by the government last year.

Besides filling 362 posts, a notification would be issued for filling more vacancies, he said.

The State Government had filed criminal cases against KPSC members, including the former chairman Gonal Bhimappa.

Mangala Sridhar, a member, was suspended on charges of corruption. “Prosecution of other members was also pending,” Jayachandra said.