Bengaluru: The State government on Tuesday issued a notification appointing IAS officer T Sham Bhatt as chairman of the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC). With this Bhatt is expected to assume office on Wednesday.

This is in accordance with the approval given by Governor Vajubhai Vala for the same. Bhatt’s candidature as KPSC?chairman has been mired in controversy ever since the government recommended his name to the Governor in May this year and several organisations made representations to the government to reject the recommendation as several cases against Bhatt were still pending before the Lokayukta. There were also charges of irregularities against the officer during his tenure as BDA?commissioner. The opposition BJP and JD(S)?have also opposed the appointment, stating that Bhatt was not fit for the coveted post.