KPSC Chairman Shivashankarappa Sahukar suspended under Article 317(2)
Synopsis
Karnataka's KPSC Chairman Shivashankarappa Sahukar has been suspended for the second time — this time under Article 317(2), with the Cabinet's formal backing. The first suspension was struck down on a constitutional technicality. At the heart of the case: allegations that Sahukar used his position to get his own daughters recruited as government officers through the very body he chaired.
Key Takeaways
Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot suspended KPSC Chairman Shivashankarappa S.
Sahukar under Article 317(2) of the Constitution on 25 August .
The suspension is based on State Cabinet advice dated 21 August and a Karnataka High Court order dated 18 August .
A previous suspension under Article 317(1) was set aside by the High Court for lacking formal Cabinet 'aid and advice'.
Sahukar is accused of facilitating the selection of his two daughters — including Suma Sahukar — as Industrial Extension Officers through the KPSC.
One daughter allegedly submitted a certificate declaring the family's annual income as ₹40,000 to claim OBC reservation benefits.
The suspension holds until further orders from President Droupadi Murmu ; the next senior-most KPSC member will act as Chairman in the interim.
Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot has suspended Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) Chairman Shivashankarappa S. Sahukar under Article 317(2) of the Constitution of India, acting on the formal recommendation of the State Cabinet dated 21 August and in accordance with an order of the Karnataka High Court dated 18 August. The suspension, announced on Tuesday, 25 August, remains in force until further orders from President Droupadi Murmu.
Key Developments
The Governor's Secretariat issued the suspension order through R. Prabhu Shankar, Special Secretary to the Governor. Until further orders, the next senior-most member of the KPSC has been directed to discharge the functions of the Chairman. The action marks the second suspension order against Sahukar within weeks, after a procedurally flawed first attempt was struck down by the High Court.
Background: How the First Suspension Unravelled
Governor Gehlot had earlier suspended Sahukar under Article 317(1) of the Constitution and recommended a Supreme Court inquiry through President Murmu. The Karnataka High Court set aside that initial order, ruling that it lacked the mandatory formal 'aid and advice' of the State Cabinet — a constitutional requirement. Sahukar was temporarily reinstated as a result. The Karnataka Cabinet subsequently reconvened and passed a formal resolution recommending suspension and inquiry, clearing the procedural hurdle. The Governor then issued the fresh order under Article 317(2).
Allegations Against Sahukar
Sahukar is accused of abusing his position as KPSC Chairman to allegedly facilitate the selection of his two daughters — including Suma Sahukar — as Industrial Extension Officers through the Commission. One daughter reportedly submitted a manipulated low-income and caste certificate declaring the family's annual income as ₹40,000 to claim OBC reservation benefits, while allegedly concealing her father's senior public post. Additional complaints have emerged alleging that the family acquired substantial commercial and agricultural properties disproportionate to their known income sources.
What Happens Next
The suspension will remain operative until President Murmu issues further orders. The Karnataka High Court's intervention has already established that any inquiry process must adhere strictly to constitutional procedure. With the Cabinet's formal recommendation now on record, the path to a presidential inquiry — which could lead to Sahukar's removal — is constitutionally clearer. This case is being closely watched as a test of institutional accountability within Karnataka's public recruitment machinery.
Point of View
Which ultimately forced a more robust, Cabinet-backed action. The allegations themselves — a PSC chairman allegedly engineering his daughters' recruitment into government service through the body he heads — strike at the foundational purpose of a Public Service Commission. If proven, this is not a peripheral irregularity but a structural corruption of merit-based selection. The question now is whether the presidential inquiry, when it comes, will move swiftly enough to deter similar conduct in other state commissions.
NationPress
26 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was KPSC Chairman Shivashankarappa Sahukar suspended?
Sahukar was suspended under Article 317(2) of the Constitution following allegations that he abused his position to facilitate the recruitment of his two daughters as Industrial Extension Officers through the KPSC. The suspension was ordered by Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot on 25 August, acting on State Cabinet advice and a Karnataka High Court order.
What is Article 317(2) of the Constitution of India?
Article 317(2) allows the President to suspend a Public Service Commission member on the recommendation of the state Cabinet, pending an inquiry. It differs from Article 317(1), under which the Governor can act independently to recommend a Supreme Court inquiry — the route that was initially used but struck down for lacking Cabinet backing.
Why was the first suspension of Sahukar set aside?
The Karnataka High Court set aside the initial suspension, which was issued under Article 317(1), because it lacked the mandatory formal 'aid and advice' of the State Cabinet — a constitutional requirement. The Karnataka Cabinet subsequently reconvened and passed a formal resolution, enabling the Governor to issue a fresh, procedurally valid order under Article 317(2).
What are the specific allegations against Sahukar?
Sahukar is accused of misusing his authority as KPSC Chairman to allegedly secure the selection of his daughters — including Suma Sahukar — as Industrial Extension Officers. One daughter reportedly used a manipulated income certificate declaring family income as ₹40,000 to claim OBC reservation benefits, allegedly concealing her father's senior position. Additional complaints allege the family acquired properties disproportionate to their known income.
Who is discharging KPSC Chairman duties during the suspension?
The Governor's order directs the next senior-most member of the Karnataka Public Service Commission to discharge the functions of the Chairman until further orders are received from President Droupadi Murmu.
