Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy on Wednesday, 23 September sharply criticised Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar for floating the idea of shutting down the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) through legislation, calling the suggestion irresponsible and reflective of a poor grasp of constitutional law. Kumaraswamy's remarks came a day after Shivakumar said his government was exploring legal options to dissolve the commission following a Karnataka High Court order constituting a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe an alleged veterinary officer recruitment scam.

Kumaraswamy's Sharp Rebuke

The Union Minister pulled no punches in his response, directly attacking the Chief Minister's intent and understanding. 'The Chief Minister's statement that the KPSC will be shut down through legislation is not merely an expression of frustration. It is the height of foolishness, irresponsibility and ignorance,' Kumaraswamy said.

He argued that the KPSC, as a constitutionally protected body, cannot and should not be held collectively responsible for alleged misconduct by a handful of individuals occupying positions within it. Accountability, he insisted, must be directed at the specific wrongdoers — not the institution itself.

Who Appointed the Alleged Wrongdoers?

Kumaraswamy turned the spotlight back on the state government, questioning who had appointed the individuals now under scrutiny and who had allowed them to function unchecked. His argument: if the sitting government sanctioned or overlooked the appointments, it cannot now escape responsibility by dismantling the institution.

Drawing a pointed analogy, he said: 'If weeds grow in a field, they should be uprooted. One should not poison the entire field.' He further suggested that by the same logic Shivakumar was applying to the KPSC, action would have to be taken against far larger institutions responsible for making those appointments in the first place.

Background: SIT Order and Shivakumar's Remark

The controversy traces back to the Karnataka High Court's decision to form an SIT to investigate the alleged veterinary officer recruitment scam — one of several irregularities that have surfaced in the KPSC's recruitment processes in recent years. On Tuesday, Chief Minister Shivakumar publicly signalled that his government was weighing whether legislation could be used to shut down the commission entirely, a remark that drew immediate and fierce political pushback.

Notably, this is not the first time the KPSC has come under fire. The commission has faced scrutiny over multiple recruitment cycles, raising broader questions about oversight mechanisms and political interference in its functioning.

Kumaraswamy's Constitutional Argument

Kumaraswamy urged Shivakumar to acquaint himself with the constitutional status, structure, and historical role of the commission before making public statements about its dissolution. Public service commissions derive their authority from the Constitution of India, making any move to legislate them out of existence legally complex and politically contentious.

He maintained that while the individuals who acted improperly must face consequences, the institution continues to serve a vital function and dismantling it would be both unjustified and counterproductive to the long-term interests of Karnataka's public administration.

What Happens Next

The political row is likely to intensify as the SIT investigation gets under way. Opposition parties, including the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Janata Dal (Secular), are expected to keep pressure on the Congress-led state government over the recruitment scam. Whether Shivakumar's remark was a genuine policy signal or a statement of political frustration remains to be seen — but its fallout has already sparked a wider debate about the constitutional safeguards around public institutions in India.