<p>Bengaluru: Days after the controversy over hosting an international conference on the Karnataka State Open University (KSOU) campus, the Governor’s Secretariat issued a notification on Thursday inviting applications for the post of vice-chancellor of the varsity.</p>.<p>The term of the incumbent VC, Sharanappa V Halase, ended in November 2025. The goveror has extended his term by another six months. </p>.<p>The government had issued a notice to Halase for hosting a 3-day international conference on the varsity campus, in association with ‘Prajna Pravah’ and Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Research Foundation. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Governor Thawarchand Gehlot took part in the event, which began on March 25.</p>.KSOU violates order, hosts conference; govt freezes bank accounts.<p>The government, not satisfied with the VC’s reply, ordered to cancel the program on late evening of March 24, 2026.</p>.<p>However, the conference was held for three days, defying the government’s order. Meanwhile, the government took steps to freeze KSOU bank accounts on March 25 to prevent “misuse” of funds as an investigation into alleged financial irregularities at the university was <br />underway. </p>.<p>According to the sources, even that order of the government was not considered by the respective banks and the salaries and other payments were done through the university’s account on Wednesday. </p>
<p>Bengaluru: Days after the controversy over hosting an international conference on the Karnataka State Open University (KSOU) campus, the Governor’s Secretariat issued a notification on Thursday inviting applications for the post of vice-chancellor of the varsity.</p>.<p>The term of the incumbent VC, Sharanappa V Halase, ended in November 2025. The goveror has extended his term by another six months. </p>.<p>The government had issued a notice to Halase for hosting a 3-day international conference on the varsity campus, in association with ‘Prajna Pravah’ and Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Research Foundation. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Governor Thawarchand Gehlot took part in the event, which began on March 25.</p>.KSOU violates order, hosts conference; govt freezes bank accounts.<p>The government, not satisfied with the VC’s reply, ordered to cancel the program on late evening of March 24, 2026.</p>.<p>However, the conference was held for three days, defying the government’s order. Meanwhile, the government took steps to freeze KSOU bank accounts on March 25 to prevent “misuse” of funds as an investigation into alleged financial irregularities at the university was <br />underway. </p>.<p>According to the sources, even that order of the government was not considered by the respective banks and the salaries and other payments were done through the university’s account on Wednesday. </p>