After the Karnataka Cabinet decided to recommend the suspension of Karnataka Public Service Commission Chairman Shivashankarappa S. Sahukar, who is embroiled in controversy in recruitments, Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot on Tuesday suspended the Chairman again.

This is the second time that the Governor has suspended the KPSC Chairman. The order cites provisions of Article 317 (2) of the Constitution, and the High Court of Karnataka’s order of August 18. The Governor has directed the senior-most member of the KPSC to act as the Chairman until further orders. Currently, B. Prabhudev is the senior-most member of the KPSC.

Before Cabinet

Earlier, on July 10, Mr. Sahukar was suspended by the Governor over submission of false income certificate by one of his two daughters, who claimed the annual income to be ₹40,000, while applying for the post of Industrial Extension Officer. However, the Cabinet’s approval for suspension had come later.

Mr. Sahukar had challenged the Governor’s order that was taken without the aid and advice of the Cabinet in the High Court, which quashed the Governor’s order and directed Mr. Sahukar’s reinstatement. Meanwhile, the Karnataka Cabinet on Friday cleared the suspension, and recommended to the Governor to suspend the Chairman.

Amid ED raids

The order also comes at a time when the Enforcement Directorate has taken up the investigation of bribe and corruption in the recruitment of Veterinary Officers and has already searched over 20 premises, including the KPSC, residence of Mr. Sahukar and IAS officer and former Controller of Examination in KPSC Gyanendra Kumar Gangwar, several middlemen among many others.