Bengaluru: Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot has assured that he will rein in the corruption at the Karnataka State Open University (KSOU) using the steps available within the legal purview and protect the sanctity of the varsity.
On Teachers’ Day, September 5, KSOU Retired Vice Chancellor Dr. S. S. Ramegowda and Retired Dean Dr. Chambi Puranik paid a courteous visit to the Governor and submitted a 33-page complaint on the issue of corruption at KSOU.
Retired Chancellor and Retired Dean, who informed about their visit to Governor stated that the Governor held a detailed discussion on the issue for about 15 minutes. They said that they have briefly described how the university has lost its credibility in the recent years stating that Vice Chancellor Dr. S. S. Vidyashankar’s unscientific conclusions have been corrosive and that the construction of needless building blocks is corroding the funds of the varsity. They informed the Governor’s that the KSOU is working more like a Public Works Department than an educational institution and spent more than Rs. 400 crore on non-educational purposes in just a few years.
Further, they informed the Governor that just a few years ago, the university was one of the most prestigious universities in the country. However, now it has reached the point of extinction. They have suggested that if this continues, the varsity will sound its own death knell, and that as Chancellor of the varsity, he can restore the varsity to its former glory.
Several new educational programmes have to be introduced during the university’s silver jubilee celebrations. However, they are currently only concerned with making administrative decisions involving money expenditure. There are now few students applying for admission to the university, so there is no need for a building expansion at this time. During their visit, they informed the Governor that the university already has 20 extension centres.
When they explained to the Governor that construction work on an extension centre for Sanskrit Varsity in Magadi had already begun, he asked what would be the problem if the building was built for Sanskrit Varsity. “That is when we informed him that it is a move against Varsity Act. If a building has to come up then there has to be an amendment to the act,” they stated.
“We have provided all the supporting documents to the Governor and he has assured that appropriate action would be taken. Despite this if we cannot save the Varsity, then we will contemplate taking the legal action,” they added.
