BENGALURU — The Karnataka High Court on Wednesday dismissed the selection lists of candidates appointed as teachers under the state’s recent recruitment drive, ruling that the authorities had illegally altered the selection norms after the process began.
Background to the recruitment drive
The state government announced in early 2026 a large‑scale recruitment of teachers for government schools across Karnataka. Applications were invited through the Department of Public Instruction and were to be evaluated by the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) according to a set of pre‑published criteria, including educational qualifications, teaching experience and performance in a written test.
Petition and court proceedings
A group of unsuccessful applicants filed a petition in the High Court, alleging that the department had introduced new eligibility thresholds and altered the weightage of test scores after the written examination had been conducted. The petitioners argued that the changes disadvantaged candidates who had prepared for the original criteria and violated the principles of fairness enshrined in the Karnataka Public Service Commission (Recruitment) Rules, 2020.
High Court’s findings
After hearing arguments from the petitioners and the state’s legal counsel, the bench concluded that the mid‑process modifications were not authorized by any amendment to the recruitment notification. The court noted that the changes were made without a fresh public notice, thereby breaching the statutory requirement for transparent selection procedures. Consequently, the court set aside the entire list of selected candidates and directed the department to revert to the original norms.
Legal basis for the order
The judgment referenced Section 15 of the Karnataka Public Service Commission (Recruitment) Rules, which mandates that any alteration to selection criteria must be published in the official Gazette and communicated to all applicants. The court found that the department failed to comply with this provision, rendering the altered norms “ultra vires” and void.
Implications for candidates and the department
The order affects approximately 12,000 applicants who had been placed on the provisional selection list. Those candidates will now have to await a fresh round of merit‑based shortlisting that adheres strictly to the original guidelines. The department has been given a two‑week deadline to submit a revised list to the court.
State officials indicated that the recruitment drive will continue, but they have not provided a new timetable for the selection process. The Department of Public Instruction released a brief statement confirming compliance with the court’s directive and assuring that “the integrity of the recruitment process will be restored.”
Reactions from teachers’ unions
The Karnataka State Teachers’ Association welcomed the judgment, describing it as a “necessary correction” that upholds merit and fairness. The union said it would monitor the re‑selection closely to ensure that no further procedural irregularities occur.
Next steps
The High Court ordered the department to file a compliance report within 15 days, after which the bench will review the revised selection list. If the department fails to meet the deadline or again deviates from the original norms, the court warned that it could impose further remedial measures, including the appointment of an independent monitoring committee.
