KSOU actions amount to contempt of court, says Ramdas

Continued violation of University Grants Commission (UGC) guidelines regarding territorial jurisdiction by Karnataka State Open University (KSOU) will amount to contempt of court, said former medical education minister S A Ramdas, here, on Tuesday.

Quoting a recent State government order, he said, Principal Secretary for Higher Education Bharat Lal Meena has reminded the KSOU that the stance of the varsity authorities regarding territorial jurisdiction would amount to the violation of a Supreme Court judgement on Prof Yashpal vs Chattisgarh Government case.

Even the varsity authorities are fully aware that their actions would amount to contempt of court, but, they have not taken any action, thereby jeopardising the future of thousands of students, he said.

Targetting University of Mysore Vice-Chancellor K S Rangappa for his ‘derogatory’ remarks during his press meet on Monday, Ramdas said, Rangappa has resorted to quips and derogatory remarks to divert the attention from KSOU’s crisis. 

In 2012-13, during the tenure of Rangappa as KSOU VC, a COD probe was ordered by the State government to look into the irregularities of the varsity. “However, the varsity authorities did not even furnish documents to the officials and Rangappa claims that all transactions during his tenure were taken up in a transparent manner,” he said.

He alleged that Rangappa has misled the general public in connection to UGC recognition for KSOU.

He urged the varsity officials to strictly comply with the regulations laid down by the UGC to ensure that the interest of the students is protected.