Bengaluru: This is a perfect example of how a questionable decision can spoil the reputation of the government. On Wednesday, the state government decided to issue appointment orders to all the 362 gazetted probationers Group A and B officers from the 2011 batch, even though the DPAR wanted the state government to move the High Court against the decision of Karnataka Administrative Tribunal (KAT).
Instead of opposing the KAT order, the cabinet decided to go with it and will issue appointment orders to all the candidates. Sources in the Karnataka Public Service Commission said that the note sent by the Department of Public Administration and Reforms (DPAR) was discussed at the cabinet meeting, but the minister decided to go against it.
But two days after the cabinet decision, the KPSC is flooded with allegations and counter-allegation. Many candidates who could not make it to the selection list allege that a few criminal elements are demanding a minimum of Rs 3 lakh from those selected saying they were behind the state government’s decision.
“In such a situation, anti-social elements try to take advantage. As no one knows what is the truth, it is easy to blackmail these candidates,” said one of the candidate who had appeared for the 2011 examination but failed to make it into the final list due to less marks in the personality test.
Several officers said that the cabinet’s decision will spoil the reputation of the government and the leaders. “The CID investigation report is in the public domain and most of the charges levelled against the then office-bearers of the KPSC have been proved. In such a scenario, issuing appointment orders to candidates will lead to several allegations,” said an officer who wished to be anonymous.
