Karnataka High Court Stays KPSC Resolution Seeking Chairperson’s Resignation; Interim Relief to Shivashankarappa S. Sahukar
Bengaluru, July 10: The Karnataka High Court has stayed the operation of a resolution passed by the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) that had called upon KPSC Chairperson Shivashankarappa S. Sahukar to resign over an issue relating to his daughter’s reservation.
According to a press statement issued by Sahukar, the KPSC, during its meeting held on June 19, 2026, had passed an additional agenda resolution recommending that a report be submitted to the State Government regarding the reservation issue involving his daughter. The resolution also stated that he should resign from the post of Chairperson and that the Commission’s recruitment processes should thereafter be conducted under the leadership of the senior-most member to ensure smooth functioning.
Sahukar stated that since the agenda included a matter relating to his daughter’s reservation, he did not attend the meeting. Instead, he had recorded a note on June 19 stating that the meeting could be chaired by the senior-most member and that decisions on the concerned agenda items could be taken in his absence.
Challenging the validity of the resolution, Sahukar approached the Karnataka High Court by filing Writ Petition No. 20949/2026.
On July 10, 2026, the High Court issued an interim order staying the operation of the June 19 resolution as well as the communications dated July 6 and July 7, until the next date of hearing.
In its order, the High Court observed that the KPSC Chairperson is an appointee of the Governor of Karnataka, and, at first glance, the other members of the Commission could not have called upon an appointee of the Governor to resign.
The Court directed issuance of notices to the respondents and made the interim stay subject to the petitioner furnishing process fee and copies by the end of the day. It also allowed the petitioner’s application seeking exemption from producing certified copies of certain annexures.
The matter has been posted for further hearing on August 11, 2026, while the interim protection granted by the High Court will remain in force until the next hearing, subject to compliance with the Court’s directions.
The case concerns the legality of the KPSC resolution and the subsequent communications issued by the Commission. The High Court has not expressed any final opinion on the merits of the allegations relating to the reservation issue, which remain to be adjudicated.
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