A significant controversy has arisen at the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) involving Suma S. Sahukar, the daughter of KPSC chairman Shivashankrappa Sahukar. She has been permanently debarred from participating in any future examinations by the commission.
The issue escalated when Suma Sahukar was placed under suspension by the Governor pending an inquiry. She is accused of falsely claiming reservation benefits under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) Category 3B to facilitate her selection as a Junior Engineer (Civil) in the Department of Industries and Commerce in March 2024.
To address this misconduct, the KPSC invoked Rule 20 of the Karnataka Civil Services (General Recruitment) Rules, 1977. This rule addresses serious forms of misconduct, including impersonation, the submission of forged or tampered documents, and providing false statements or suppressing crucial information. Violations could lead to severe repercussions, including permanent or temporary debarment.
Legal Action Taken
In response to the allegations, the Vidhana Soudha police filed a First Information Report (FIR) against Ms. Suma Sahukar on Friday. The FIR was registered following a complaint from KPSC after it was confirmed that the income certificate she submitted was fraudulent. Notably, at the time of her selection, her father held the chairperson position at KPSC, a constitutional office with a monthly salary of ₹2.25 lakh, in addition to various allowances.
As the daughter of the KPSC chairman, Suma Sahukar is classified under the creamy layer category, which applies to individuals from families earning more than ₹8 lakh annually.
Governor’s Communication
Furthermore, a communication from Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot’s office revealed that Ms. Suma Sahukar had procured an income and caste certificate claiming her family’s annual income was only ₹40,000. This allowed her to seek OBC reservation and exemption from the creamy layer despite the family’s actual income allegedly surpassing the set threshold.
The Governor’s office emphasized that under a Karnataka government order dated March 30, 2002, children of the chairperson of a Public Service Commission do not qualify for reservations under the backward classes quota. This incident raises significant questions regarding integrity and adherence to regulations within the KPSC.
