India, Aug. 1 -- The Karnataka High Court has observed that allegations of large-scale irregularities in the KPSC recruitment of 400 Veterinary Officers, if ultimately established, would amount to "not sporadic irregularities, but a systematic assault upon the constitutional mandate governing public employment."

The bench sought the Karnataka Government's response on a plea to transfer the probe to the CBI during the hearing on July 29.

Hearing a petition filed by Manjunath, Justice M Nagaprasanna observed that recruitment to public office is the gateway through which the constitutional promise of equality of opportunity under Article 16 finds practical expression and that if the process becomes susceptible to "manipulation, favouritism...