The sub-committee constituted by the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) to look into allegations of malpractices in the examination for the posts of Assistant Executive Engineers (AEE) in the Department of Rural Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation has pointed to lapses by the then Secretary of Commission Latha Kumari.
It also suggested a slew of exam reforms to ensure that the process is tamper-proof (See graphics).
The sub-committee, which has submitted a report to the government that 10 of those selected had indulged in exam malpractice, expressed strong objection to Ms. Kumari publishing the final selection list of candidates without the consent of the Chairman and Members of the Commission.
Need for CID probe
In its recommendation, the sub-committee has appealed to the government to cancel the postings of 10 candidates, who got jobs after tampering with OMR (Optical Marks Recognition) sheets, and also to entrust this case to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for further investigation.
The sub-committee report states that although Anand S. Siddareddy had filed an objection to the provisional list of 24 AEEs, the then Secretary of the Commission had published the final selection list without investigating them.
“Anand S. Siddareddy had filed objection to the provisional selection list on September 25, 2023, and his objections were pending for consideration of the Commission. However, the then Secretary of the Commission, instead of enquiring into the objections, ventured to publish the final selection list without the concurrence of the Commission on January 31, 2024. Therefore, the act of the then Secretary in publishing the final selection list is contrary to the procedure followed by the Commission,” the report stated. The sub-committee had banked on a FSL report to arrive at the conclusion that 10 candidates had indulged in malpractice.
Key recommendations of sub-committee
Initiate criminal action against tainted candidates by lodging complaint to the police, and order CID probe.
Introduce a fifth column in OMR sheets wherein, if a candidates does not answer a question, he/she has to mark “not attended.”
Make it mandatory to use only blue ball point pen in all OMR-based examinations and install 5G jammers in all centres
Install CCTV cameras in corridors of exam centres to have full coverage of the invigilator carrying sealed covers from the exam room to chief superintendent’s room.
Make only government schools and colleges with necessary infrastructure centres and avoid examinations centres in remote localities.
Transported answer scripts/booklets and other exam materials from DC office to exam centre only with police escort under GPS.
Ask candidates to compulsorily retain carbon copies of OMR sheets till the Commission takes decision objections, if any, on the final selection list.
Provided two carbon copies instead of one – one to be retained by commission and second given to candidate.
Denial of opportunity
“These candidates have not only cheated the Commission but their actions have resulted in denying a fair opportunity to the meritorious candidates who would have become eligible for selection on their own merit,” the report stated.
The report said that the Chairman of the Commission had written a letter to the Chief Secretary to withhold the selection list on various grounds. The government did not act on selection list immediately, but it issued notifications appointing all 24 candidates with a condition that their appointments are subject to the final decision of the Commission.
“The perusal of these notifications would reveal that the government, though has issued appointment orders, hitherto no posting orders are issued in favour of the said candidates perhaps due to the pendency of the present enquiry,” the sub-committee stated in the report.
In this context, the sub-committee has urged the government to immediately cancel the appointments of the 10 candidates, citing the powers of the Commission and various judgments of the Supreme Court in this regard.
(This is the third and concluding part of the series on KPSC exam malpractices.)
