At the centre of the controversy over the irregularity reported at the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) is Suma S. Sahukar, daughter of KPSC chairman Shivashankrappa Sahukar, who has been permanently debarred by the commission from taking part in any future examinations.

The daughter of the KPSC chairman, who has now been placed under suspension by the Governor pending inquiry, is accused of falsely claiming reservation benefits under OBC Category 3B to facilitate her selection as Junior Engineer (Civil) in the Department of Industries and Commerce in March 2024.

‘Fabricated documents’

The KPSC had invoked Rule 20 of the Karnataka Civil Services (General Recruitment) Rules, 1977, for misconduct that includes impersonation, or submitting fabricated documents, or documents that have been tampered with, or making statements which are incorrect or false, or of suppressing material information, which is liable for criminal action, be debarred either permanently or for a specific period of time.

Earlier, the Vidhana Soudha police registered an FIR against Ms. Suma Sahukar on Friday. The FIR was registered based on a complaint from KPSC, after verification revealed that the income certificate was false, as during the selection process, the candidate’s father was the chairperson of KPSC, a Constitutional post, drawing a monthly salary of ₹2.25 lakh apart from other allowances. Being a dependent of her father, she falls in the creamy layer category that is annual income of above ₹8 lakh.

What the Governor said

The communication from Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot’s office said that Ms. Suma Sahukar obtained an income and caste certificate declaring the family’s annual income as ₹40,000 and claimed OBC reservation and creamy layer exemption despite the family’s income allegedly exceeding the prescribed limit. It stated that, under a Karnataka government order dated March 30, 2002, children of the chairperson of a Public Service Commission are not eligible to claim reservation under the backward classes quota.