BENGALURU: Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot has suspended Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) Chairperson Shivashankarappa S. Sahukar, pending an inquiry into alleged misconduct linked to the illegal selection of his daughters through the KPSC process. The Governor has also recommended to the President of India to refer the matter to the Supreme Court of India under Article 317(1) of the Constitution for an inquiry into the allegations.

According to a statement issued by the Karnataka Raj Bhavan on July 13, the Chairperson has been placed under suspension until further orders from the President’s office to ensure a fair and impartial investigation while protecting the integrity of the KPSC. The Governor has directed the senior-most member of the Commission to function as the Acting Chairperson.

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Earlier, on July 10, the Vidhana Soudha police registered an FIR against Suma S. Sahukar for allegedly producing a false Income and Asset Certificate declaring her family’s annual income as ₹40,000 to secure a Junior Engineer (Civil) post in March 2024 under the 3B reservation category. The FIR was based on a KPSC complaint after verification revealed her father was drawing a monthly salary of ₹2.25 lakh as KPSC Chairperson. Meanwhile, the High Court of Karnataka on July 10 had stayed a KPSC resolution passed by other members on June 19 asking the Chairperson to resign.

The Governor’s Secretariat stated that complaints were received alleging the Chairperson facilitated the illegal selection of his two daughters as Industrial Extension Officers. He failed to declare a conflict of interest or recuse himself while his direct dependents participated in the recruitment process. Additionally, despite exceeding the income limit, OBC reservation was claimed, violating a March 30, 2002 government order which states that children of a Public Service Commission Chairperson are ineligible for backward classes quota. The Governor’s Secretariat stated that this suppression of material facts amounted to ‘misbehaviour’ warranting constitutional action.

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