Bengaluru: A delegation of Congress leaders has urged Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar to overhaul the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) by adopting the recommendations of the P.C. Hota committee and the rules and procedures followed by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).
The delegation met Shivakumar at the KPCC office on Wednesday and submitted a memorandum, alleging that recent irregularity allegations involving the KPSC had eroded the confidence of job aspirants and the public in the recruitment body.
The leaders said the government should take immediate steps to restore confidence in the commission and ensure a transparent recruitment process.
Action against those found guilty
The delegation sought an inquiry under Article 317 of the Constitution into allegations against the KPSC chairman and members. It also called for suspension of those facing allegations during the inquiry and action against examination controllers found responsible for irregularities.
It further demanded that recruitment processes found to have been affected by irregularities be cancelled and that any corruption inquiry be extended to cover the functioning of the entire commission.
The memorandum also sought legal action and confiscation of assets allegedly acquired illegally by those found guilty.
Transparency in recruitment
The Congress leaders proposed constituting a small panel comprising persons with integrity, honesty and competence to oversee recruitment-related work. They also urged the government not to forward fresh recruitment proposals to the KPSC until corrective measures are put in place.
For greater transparency in the appointment of KPSC chairman and members, the delegation suggested setting up a search committee and making appointments based on its recommendations.
It also proposed making it mandatory for the chairman and members to annually submit details of their movable and immovable assets, as well as those of their family members, to the Lokayukta.
The delegation further sought CCTV surveillance of KPSC interviews, with recordings preserved for at least three years, saying such measures would help restore public confidence in the commission.
The delegation included former MPs V.S. Ugrappa, B.L. Shankar, L. Hanumanthaiah, Chandrappa and Mudduhanumegowda; former ministers P.G.R. Sindhia, H.M. Revanna and Rani Satish; former legislative council chairman V.R. Sudarshan; former MLAs P.R. Ramesh and Kondajji Mohan; and senior writer C.S. Dwarakanath, among others.
