Governor recommends SC probe against KPSC Chairman, suspends him pending inquiry

Published 13 July 2026 · politics

Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot has suspended Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) Chairman Shivashankrappa S. Sahukar, pending inquiry into alleged misconduct linked to the illegal selection of his daughter through the KPSC process. The Governor has recommended to the President of India to make a reference to the Supreme Court of India under Article 317(1) of the Constitution for an inquiry into the allegations made against Mr. Sahukar. “To further ensure a fair, impartial and uninfluenced investigation while protecting the integrity and credibility of the KPSC, the Governor has placed the Chairman under suspension until further orders from the President’s office,” a statement from the Lok Bhavan said on Monday. The Governor has also directed the senior-most member of the commission to function as the Acting Chairman until further orders from the President of India.

FIR and HC relief The Vidhana Soudha police registered an FIR against Suma S. Sahukar on July 10 for allegedly claiming reservation benefits under the 3B category by producing an Income and Asset Certificate that declared her family’s annual income as ₹40,000 to be selected for the post of Junior Engineer (Civil) for the Department of Industries and Commerce in March 2024. The FIR was registered based on a complaint from the KPSC, after verification of the income certificate found it was false, as during the selection process the candidate’s father Shivashankrappa S. Sahukar was the Chairman of the KPSC drawing a monthly salary of ₹2.25 Lakh apart from other allowances. The High Court of Karnataka on July 10 stayed a resolution passed in the KPSC by other members on June 19 asking the Chairman to resign taking moral responsibility over his daughter’s alleged illegal selection for a post while he was the Chairman.

‘Misbehaviour warranting action’ The statement from the Governor’s Secretariat on Monday said that the Lok Bhavan had received complaints that alleged that the Chairman facilitated the illegal selection of his two daughters to the posts of Industrial Extension Officers in an unlawful manner. The Governor’s Secretariat said the Chairman failed to recuse himself or formally declare a conflict of interest while his direct dependents participated in the KPSC recruitment process. It further said that one of his daughters obtained an income and caste certificate declaring the family’s annual income as ₹40,000 and claimed OBC reservation and creamy layer exemption despite the family’s income allegedly exceeding the prescribed limit. It also stated that, under a State Government Order dated March 30, 2002, children of the Chairman of a Public Service Commission are not eligible to claim reservation under the backward classes quota.