Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Tuesday, 22 September said his government was actively consulting legal experts on shutting down the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC), following the Karnataka High Court's order to constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe alleged irregularities in the veterinary officer recruitment process. Shivakumar made the remarks while speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, calling out what he described as a deeply compromised body riddled with corrupt insiders.

What Shivakumar Said

'KPSC should be shut down. There are many thieves there who are involved in illegal activities. Our police have caught them and gathered evidence. We have to find out who appointed them and who operated this,' the Chief Minister said, stopping short of formally naming any individual in the ruling dispensation.

Shivakumar was careful to temper the rhetoric with procedural caution, emphasising that constitutional norms would have to be followed before any dissolution could be effected. 'The way action is initiated against the President of India or High Court judges, has a procedure. Similarly, action has to be initiated according to the procedure here. That is why we are thinking legally,' he said.

The SIT Probe and CID Report

The Karnataka High Court's SIT order follows a CID report submitted to both the state government and the trial court, which reportedly details a money trail, the involvement of middlemen, and the role of officials in manipulating the recruitment process. Among those arrested is BJP leader Basavaraj Kannale, whose detention has given the ruling Congress government fresh ammunition to target the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The SIT is expected to examine the roles of officials, candidates, and intermediaries in the alleged manipulation.

Political Undercurrent

Shivakumar's remarks carried an unmistakable swipe at the BJP, with questions about who appointed the officials now under scrutiny. The commission's membership was reportedly reduced from 16 during the tenure of former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, and the current government has sought to distance itself from those appointments. Notably, the arrests and the High Court intervention represent an escalation of a scandal that has been building for several months.

Shivakumar Invokes His Own Record

The Chief Minister also pointed to his tenure as Power Minister as evidence of his commitment to clean recruitment. 'I was the Power Minister and appointed 23,000 linemen and others. I was highly vigilant and did not give room for such things,' he said. He acknowledged the difficulty governments face when appointed officials later engage in misconduct, arguing that intent at the time of appointment cannot always prevent subsequent wrongdoing.

What Happens Next

The government has signalled it will wait for a legal opinion before taking any formal steps against the KPSC, with Shivakumar stressing that the welfare of students and job aspirants remains the administration's primary concern. 'For us, the future of our children is important,' he said. The SIT investigation is now underway, and its findings are expected to determine both criminal liability and the institutional future of the KPSC.