New Delhi, October 30, 2026: The Supreme Court has struck down a Karnataka law that sought to validate the controversial 2011 gazetted probationers’ recruitment conducted by the Karnataka Public Service Commission, holding that the legislation was unconstitutional because it attempted to override earlier judicial decisions cancelling the tainted selection process.
2022 Law Declared Unconstitutional
A Bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and K Vinod Chandran invalidated the Karnataka Civil Services (Validation of Selection and Appointment of 2011 Batch Gazetted Probationers) Act, 2022.
The Court said a legislature may remove the legal basis of an earlier judgment through valid retrospective legislation, but it cannot simply annul a final judicial decision by passing a new law.
Recruitment Was Hit by Corruption and Nepotism
The dispute dates back to a 2011 recruitment drive for 362 Group A and Group B posts.
A subsequent CID inquiry found serious allegations of manipulation, corruption and nepotism involving the Karnataka Public Service Commission. The recruitment was eventually cancelled, and that cancellation was upheld by the Karnataka High Court and later left undisturbed by the Supreme Court.
Appointments Under 2022 Law to End
The Supreme Court ruled that appointments made under the now-invalid 2022 law will also come to an end.
The Court rejected arguments that the selected candidates should be protected merely because considerable time had passed, noting that the underlying recruitment had already been found to be fundamentally tainted rather than affected by a minor procedural irregularity.
Fresh Recruitment Ordered
The Karnataka government has been directed to notify and conduct fresh recruitment for the vacancies that remain in Group A and Group B services under the rules currently in force.
One-Time Age Relaxation Allowed
The Court granted a one-time age relaxation to certain candidates from the earlier recruitment, including eligible untainted candidates and those who had pursued legal proceedings.
However, candidates who succeed in the fresh process will receive seniority only from the date of their new appointment and will not be entitled to back wages or retrospective appointment benefits.
Supreme Court Questions High Court Approach
The Bench also expressed strong concern over how the Karnataka High Court had earlier dealt with challenges to the 2022 legislation.
It said the petitions had been handled without adequately addressing fundamental legal principles surrounding legislative power and judicial finality.
Ruling Reinforces Limits on Legislative Power
The judgment reinforces the principle that state legislatures cannot use validation laws merely to overturn binding court decisions without first correcting the underlying legal defect identified by the judiciary.
The ruling now requires Karnataka to move ahead with a fresh hiring process for the remaining vacancies.
Source: The Indian Express, LiveLaw, Bar & Bench, Hindustan Times
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