Bengaluru, 13 Mar

Opposition BJP members on Thursday raised concerns in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly over the functioning of the KPSC, alleging irregularities in recruitment examinations and demanding comprehensive reforms to restore credibility to the institution.

Initiating the discussion, Karakala BJP MLA and former minister V Sunil Kumar said recent Karnataka Public Service Commission examinations and the results announced had triggered widespread anxiety among aspirants across the state. He noted that with nearly 2.75 lakh governmentposts lying vacant, youth across Karnataka were staging protests demanding that the vacancies be filled through a fair and transparent process.

"The recent examination conducted by the KPSC and the results announced for it have created a huge atmosphere of anxiety among students in the state," he, adding that the debate in the House was aimed at correcting the system "once and for all."

The BJP leader alleged that repeated controversies had eroded public confidence in the recruitment body and warned that irregularities in such institutions could affect the future of governance.

"If corruption and malpractice take place at the very centre that determines the future administrative system, what kind of work can a person who gets a job through corruption do as a Tahsildar or in any public office," he asked.

Highlighting the scale of the problem, Sunil Kumar said around 2.75 lakh posts were vacant in Karnataka even as thousands of aspirants were preparing for government jobs with the hope of securing a stable career.

He alleged that the recruitment process had become a source of frustration for candidates due to delays and allegations of irregularities.

Referring to the latest controversy, he said the examination conducted for filling 384 professional posts had come under scrutiny after several candidates questioned the results and the aggregation of marks.

"If such a large administrative system cannot conduct an exam for just 5,000 candidates in a fair manner, what does that indicate," he asked.

Sunil Kumar also cited several allegations raised by candidates, including claims that in one examination hall where 24 candidates appeared, 11 were declared qualified, and concerns about consecutive serial numbers among successful candidates. "The suspicion is not about their capability but about the fact that their serial numbers were consecutive. This has led to doubts that entire examination rooms may have been managed," he said.

He further claimed that students had written to the KPSC secretary alleging that answer sheets for Paper-II of the main examination were distributed with the seal already open, but there had been no clarity on the action taken by the commission.

Demanding accountability, the BJP MLA urged the government to clarify whether it had received any report on the allegations and called for postponing the interviews scheduled for March 23 until a proper investigation was completed.

Participating in the debate, Rajajinagar BJP MLA and former minister S Suresh Kumar said the commission had lost credibility in the eyes of aspirants.

"KPSC is a constitutional body, but unfortunately it is not a healthy body. It has lost credibility. Instead of the Karnataka Public Service Commission, it is now seen as merely a Karnataka Public Commission," he remarked.

Emphasising the seriousness of the issue, Suresh Kumar said the loss of trust among youth could have long-term consequences.

"If we lose our youth, the nation will suffer--not because of bombs, but because we have lost the faith of the youth," he said.

He also called for structural reforms, including the creation of a permanent evaluation board and a comprehensive overhaul of the examination system to ensure transparency and restore confidence among candidates aspiring to enter public service.