NANDISH L M Vs. STATE OF KARNATAKA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The Petitioners have challenged the rejection list dated NIL issued by the Karnataka Public Service Commission ('KPSC' for short), whereby the candidacy of the petitioners has been rejected by the Commission inter alia on the ground that the Degree obtained by the petitioners from respondent No.4 - Karnataka State Open University ('KSOU' for short) has not been recognized by the University Grant Commission after the academic year 2012-13.

(2.) Briefly the facts of the case are that the petitioners had completed their Bachelor of Arts Degree from KSOU after 2013-2014. The KPSC had issued an advertisement for Probationary Gazetted Officers and had invited applications thereon. Since the petitioners were hopeful of selection and appointment, they applied for the same. On taking the preliminary examination, they were required to submit their application online. Having faced successfully the preliminary examination, they were hopeful to take the main examination which is scheduled to be held on 18.9.2015. But to the shock and dismay of the petitioners, their applications for the main examination have been rejected by KPSC. Hence, these petitions before this Court.

(3.) Mr.H.C.Shivaramu, the learned counsel for the petitioners, has vehemently contended that the public notice issued by the UGC dated 16th June 2015 was unknown to the petitioners. According to the said public notice, the KSOU was derecognized by the UGC from the academic year 2013-14. Therefore, a fraud had been played on the petitioners by the KSOU. But, as the petitioners were unaware that their Degrees were derecognized, they should be permitted to take the main examination on 18.9.2015 on a provisional basis.