The Supreme Court of India on October 29, 2026, delivered a vital constitutional ruling on the separation of powers, striking down state legislative action aimed at bypassing court-ordered cancellations of public service appointments.

Incompetence of Legislature to Overrule Judicial Verdicts

A Bench of the Supreme Court examined the validity of the 2022 Karnataka law enacted to validate the controversial 2011 Gazetted Probationers selections conducted by the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC), which had previously been invalidated due to widespread manipulation and malpractices.

Key Observations and Legal Principles

  • Violation of Separation of Powers: The Court reiterated that while the legislature possesses the power to alter the foundational basis of a judgment prospectively, it cannot directly issue a legislative fiat to reverse or annul a binding judicial decision.
  • Restoration of Administrative Integrity: Emphasizing transparency in public employment, the Bench directed the State Government to initiate fresh recruitment for the vacant Group A and Group B posts.
  • One-Time Age Relaxation: To prevent prejudice to past aspirants, the Court granted a one-time age relaxation to candidates who had participated in the original 2011 selection process.

The Supreme Court allowed the petitions, setting aside the validation act and ordering clean recruitment procedures.