Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court on Wednesday, September 30, directed the State’s Chief Secretary to submit an affidavit specifying the timeline within which the Civil Service Board (CSB) will be constituted in compliance with the directions of the Supreme Court issued in 2013.
The order came while hearing a petition seeking the constitution of a Civil Service Board in Karnataka and the implementation of a minimum tenure for civil servants, as directed by the Supreme Court in TSR Subramanian and Others vs Union of India (2013).
Supreme Court Directions on Civil Service Board
In its 2013 judgment, the Supreme Court had directed the Centre, State Governments and Union Territories to constitute Civil Service Boards comprising senior serving officers who are specialists in their respective fields.
The directions were issued until Parliament enacted appropriate legislation for establishing such boards.
The Civil Service Board was envisaged to:
- Make recommendations regarding transfers and postings of officers.
- Guide and advise the government on service-related matters.
- Examine issues concerning transfers, postings and disciplinary action.
- Promote good governance, transparency and accountability in government functioning.
- Bring greater professionalism, expertise and efficiency into administration.
The Supreme Court had also observed that the inclusion of experts from areas such as administration, management, science and technology could improve the functioning of the government.
Karnataka High Court Seeks Fresh Affidavit From Chief Secretary
A Division Bench comprising Justice Anu Sivaraman and Justice K.S. Bharath Kumar was not satisfied with the contents of an affidavit filed by the concerned Under Secretary.
The court accordingly directed the Chief Secretary to place a fresh affidavit on record detailing the steps taken towards constitution of the Civil Service Board and specifying the timeframe within which the Supreme Court’s directions would be complied with.
The court directed:
“Accordingly, there will be a direction to the Chief Secretary of the State to place on record an affidavit pointing out steps taken for constitution of the CSB and placing within what time the directions will stand complied.”
Court Declines Request to Stop Officer Transfers
The petitioner had also sought a direction preventing the State authorities from carrying out transfers of officers until the Civil Service Board was established.
The court, however, orally indicated that it could not issue such a direction. It observed that the petitioner could challenge individual transfers if required.
Karnataka Government Had Earlier Placed Proposal Before Competent Authority
During the hearing in October 2025, the State’s counsel had submitted a letter dated October 13, 2025, indicating that the third meeting of the Cabinet sub-committee had been held on July 15, 2025.
According to the letter, the file had subsequently been placed before the competent authority for approval to put the proposal before the Cabinet.
The latest proceedings follow earlier hearings in which the implementation of the Supreme Court’s directions regarding the Civil Service Board was also examined.
High Court Had Raised Concern Over Delay in 2024
In 2024, the High Court had noted that a Division Bench in another writ petition, Writ Petition No. 7689 of 2021, Mr. Sharath B. vs Union of India and Others, had referred to the alleged inaction of the State authorities in implementing the Supreme Court’s directions.
The earlier order noted that although the Civil Service Board had been proposed, the proposal was subsequently shelved and no concrete action had been taken further.
The court had also expressed strong concern over the State authorities’ failure to implement the Supreme Court’s directions and the earlier High Court order.
Matter Listed After Two Weeks
The Karnataka High Court has now directed the Chief Secretary to place the required affidavit on record, detailing both the steps taken so far and the expected timeline for compliance.
The matter has been listed after two weeks for further hearing.
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