Legal setback for Karnataka governor's suspension order on KPSC head

A three‑judge bench of the Karnataka High Court has declared the July 10 suspension of KPSC chairman Shivshankappa B. Sahukar null and void. Justice Suraj Govindraj explained that the governor cannot act without a formal recommendation from the Council of Ministers, a step that was completely missing in this case. The court ordered that Sahukar be reinstated within a week, but barred him from taking any rulings involving his daughters' applications.

The decision was preceded by senior advocate Arun Shyam’s submission that the suspension breached Article 317(1) of the Constitution, which reserves the power to refer a commissioner's case to the President only after a recommendation from the governor. The High Court’s verdict adds to the growing controversy surrounding KPSC’s recruitment mechanisms, especially the ongoing inquiry into alleged irregularities in veterinary officer appointments.