Bengaluru, August 18, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday quashed the suspension of Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) Chairman Shivashankarappa S. Sahukar, holding that the order was not legally sustainable, and directed the authorities to reinstate him within seven days.
A bench headed by Justice Suraj Govindaraj passed the order while hearing Sahukar’s petition challenging the suspension imposed by Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot on July 10.
The High Court observed that the state Cabinet had neither recommended nor proposed Sahukar’s suspension. It held that the Governor was required to act in accordance with the Cabinet’s decision and consequently declared the suspension order null and void.
The court, however, imposed a specific restriction on Sahukar, directing him not to take any decision concerning the appointments of his daughters.
Senior counsel Arun Shyam, appearing for Sahukar, had argued that the suspension did not comply with the applicable legal requirements.
Sahukar had challenged the Governor’s order before the High Court, contending that the Governor did not have the power to suspend the chairperson of a State Public Service Commission unless the President, acting on the Governor’s recommendation, made a reference to the Supreme Court under Article 317(1) of the Constitution for an inquiry against the chairperson.
The court’s decision comes amid allegations of irregularities in the KPSC recruitment process, including the recruitment of Veterinary Officers.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday conducted searches at 21 locations in Karnataka and Ahmedabad in connection with the alleged recruitment irregularities. The searches were carried out by the agency’s Bengaluru Zonal Office under Section 17 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
The locations searched included the KPSC office, Sahukar’s residence, the residence of KPSC member Shanta Hosmani, premises linked to alleged middlemen, candidates selected for Veterinary Officer posts and the office of Edutest Solutions Pvt. Ltd., which handled digital evaluation of examination papers.
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