Bengaluru: The Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) has cancelled the candidature of an applicant who wrote the phrase ‘Jaya Sri Rama’ on the descriptive answer script during the 2023-24 Gazetted Probationers Main Examination.
The incident occurred during the General Studies-3 paper held on May 9, 2025. According to the KPSC action, evaluators noticed the phrase on the question-cum-answer booklet and reported it as a violation of examination instructions.
The 2023-24 Gazetted Probationers recruitment is governed by the Karnataka Recruitment of Gazetted Probationers rules, under which the Main Examination is descriptive in nature.
Candidate says phrase was written unknowingly
Following the report, the KPSC issued a show-cause notice to the candidate.
In his written response, the candidate reportedly said that he had written ‘Jaya Sri Rama’ unknowingly while praying to God for a job. He maintained that there was no malicious intention behind writing the phrase and requested the commission to forgive the mistake.
However, the commission treated the writing as a violation of the examination instructions.
According to the rules cited in the order, candidates are prohibited from writing their name, signature, registration number, mobile number, address or other unrelated material anywhere on the answer booklet except the designated OMR cover page.
The KPSC subsequently cancelled the candidate’s application. The order was issued by KPSC Secretary K Jyothi.
Candidate permanently debarred in separate case
In a separate action, the KPSC has permanently debarred Kareppa Hanumantha Tubachi from appearing for examinations conducted by the commission.
The action relates to his alleged concealment of his involvement as an accused in the 2021 First Division Assistant (FDA) question paper leak case.
Tubachi was among 20 people named in an FIR registered at Jnanabharathi police station in connection with the case and was subsequently arrested during the police investigation, according to the information cited in the KPSC proceedings.
The commission had earlier decided to debar him from its examinations based on the case.
Candidate appeared for PDO examination
Despite the earlier action, Tubachi allegedly applied for and appeared in the Panchayat Development Officer (PDO) recruitment examination conducted in March 2024.
After issuing a show-cause notice, the KPSC considered his response. He reportedly maintained that he was innocent and argued that action should be taken only after a court verdict. He also sought permission to appear for the examination, describing himself as a poor and honest candidate.
During the inquiry, however, the commission concluded that he had concealed the relevant information while applying for the examination.
Based on its findings, KPSC Secretary K Jyothi issued an order permanently debarring Tubachi from appearing for any future examinations conducted by the commission.
The two actions highlight the commission’s enforcement of its examination and eligibility rules, with the latest orders dealing separately with an answer-script violation and the alleged concealment of information by a candidate.