Supreme Court Stays Karnataka High Court Order on KPSC Scam

The Supreme Court of India stayed a Karnataka High Court order that mandated a de novo investigation and the creation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe recruitment scams within the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC). The original September 21 judgment by the High Court sought a fresh probe into the recruitment of 400 Veterinary Officers and other posts, including Industrial Extension Officers, following allegations of bribery and OMR sheet manipulation.

The Government of Karnataka challenged the order via a Special Leave Petition, with Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal arguing that the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) had already made substantial progress. The state noted that the CID had recovered digital evidence and arrested former KPSC Controller of Examinations Gyanendra Kumar and a middleman, Basavaraj Kannale. The state further objected to the High Court naming specific officers for the SIT, particularly Alok Kumar, who is currently under a separate CBI investigation regarding phone tapping.

The KPSC has faced severe scrutiny following the suspension of its chairman, Shivashankarappa S. Sahukar, by Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot. Sahukar, who is reported missing, was allegedly involved in illegally facilitating the selection of his daughters as Industrial Extension Officers. A bench comprising Justice Manoj Misra and Justice Vijay Bishnoi has requested a reply from respondents by October 12, 2026, and directed the state to submit objections to the SIT's composition in a sealed cover.