<p>Coal scam, 2G spectrum scam, mining scams, the Vyapam scam, and the Commonwealth Games scam are some recent well-known corruption stories in the national spotlight. But a scam involving the Karnataka State Open University (KSOU) could well be the “poster child” for the various factors that affect India’s development, yet little attention has been paid to the corruption affecting lakhs of KSOU students. This may be because the alleged bribery involved in KSOU is insignificant in comparison to those larger scams. <br /><br />Karnataka State Open University had recognition from the University Grants Commission until 2012–13, but failed to take timely action to renew it. When KSOU began offering courses outside the state, including technical and professional courses, without the approval of the regulatory bodies concerned, such as the All-India Council for Technical Education, the Medical Council of India, etc, the UGC asked KSOU to stop. However, KSOU continued to admit new students until 2015–16. These unfortunate students have degrees with no value or are waiting to receive completion certificates.<br /><br />In 2015, a 612-page report by a one-man fact-finding committee of High Court Judge Bhaktavatsala revealed the shocking corruption and illegalities at KSOU. Yet no discernible action has been taken by the government to prosecute the officials as recommended by the Governor. The fate of thousands of KSOU students has been left hanging.<br /><br />The KSOU scam has several sub-plots: the number of students affected is unknown — about two lakhs to six lakhs, depending on which source you believe. High-level officials from former vice chancellors and registrars to professors to lower-level clerks may finally be prosecuted for taking bribes for various favours. <br /><br />The highest education regulatory board, UGC, the Union HRD ministry, the Karnataka government and its higher education ministry are all blamed for their failure to take timely action to prevent the students from landing in this plight. Scores of study centres approved by KSOU all over India are under the cloud. <br /><br />Despite the fact that no new students have been admitted to KSOU since 2015, crores of rupees are being spent to continue paying the salaries of professors and staff, while the Karnataka government has shown no urgency to find a solution to the mess. <br /><br />The beautiful KSOU campus, built with taxpayers’ money, is unlikely to see any students at least until the next academic year. <br /><br />While the plight of students has attracted some media attention, hardly any interest has been shown to find out what kind of education was imparted by KSOU. No one has assessed the quality of the students that pass through it. <br /><br />One student who was selected for a teaching job through a competitive examination lost his job because his KSOU diploma is invalid. Many students who got job offers were refused when their KSOU certificates were found to be invalid. Some lost their chances to get promoted as principals or headmasters.<br /><br />A physically handicapped student from a poor family is unable to appear for UPSC despite having a B.Tech degree from KSOU. Some are unable to pursue higher studies and have to repeat their courses. An ex-service man failed to get the job of assistant professor although he was selected by the public service since his KSOU diploma was invalid. <br /><br />No solution in sight<br />Students have been regularly calling KSOU to ask when they will get their final marks, or when they can take final examinations, or when they will get their degrees, etc. They rarely succeed in getting through to anyone with authority at KSOU. When they do succeed, the response always is “soon.” The reasons for the UGC not granting recognition to KSOU, after it has agreed to abide by all the conditions set, are not known.<br /><br />Some students have approached courts with PILs. Some have written directly to the UGC, the MHRD, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and even Prime Minister Narendra Modi — so far with no result. <br /><br />Getting justice through the judicial process is likely to be complex and delayed, and uncertain. Since KSOU students are all consumers under the consumer protection act, having paid fees either directly to KSOU or indirectly through the study centres, they can approach the consumer courts individually or collectively as a group. Although these consumer courts decide quickly, it is not certain that the students will be able to get their degrees. At best, they may receive some compensation, since KSOU has obviously failed to keep its promise of awarding degrees even when the students have met the requirements. <br /><br />Perhaps only the prime minister can find a solution to the plight of these students. He should appoint a commission, with a retired high court or supreme court judge, a retired vice chancellor, and an activist lawyer, who should be required to submit their recommendations in one month, for implementation within two months.<br /><br />The affected students have been waiting for up to four years for a solution. Let us hope that Modi, who is committed to fight corruption and wants to create a New India, will find a way to help lakhs of KSOU students all over India.</p>
<p>Coal scam, 2G spectrum scam, mining scams, the Vyapam scam, and the Commonwealth Games scam are some recent well-known corruption stories in the national spotlight. But a scam involving the Karnataka State Open University (KSOU) could well be the “poster child” for the various factors that affect India’s development, yet little attention has been paid to the corruption affecting lakhs of KSOU students. This may be because the alleged bribery involved in KSOU is insignificant in comparison to those larger scams. <br /><br />Karnataka State Open University had recognition from the University Grants Commission until 2012–13, but failed to take timely action to renew it. When KSOU began offering courses outside the state, including technical and professional courses, without the approval of the regulatory bodies concerned, such as the All-India Council for Technical Education, the Medical Council of India, etc, the UGC asked KSOU to stop. However, KSOU continued to admit new students until 2015–16. These unfortunate students have degrees with no value or are waiting to receive completion certificates.<br /><br />In 2015, a 612-page report by a one-man fact-finding committee of High Court Judge Bhaktavatsala revealed the shocking corruption and illegalities at KSOU. Yet no discernible action has been taken by the government to prosecute the officials as recommended by the Governor. The fate of thousands of KSOU students has been left hanging.<br /><br />The KSOU scam has several sub-plots: the number of students affected is unknown — about two lakhs to six lakhs, depending on which source you believe. High-level officials from former vice chancellors and registrars to professors to lower-level clerks may finally be prosecuted for taking bribes for various favours. <br /><br />The highest education regulatory board, UGC, the Union HRD ministry, the Karnataka government and its higher education ministry are all blamed for their failure to take timely action to prevent the students from landing in this plight. Scores of study centres approved by KSOU all over India are under the cloud. <br /><br />Despite the fact that no new students have been admitted to KSOU since 2015, crores of rupees are being spent to continue paying the salaries of professors and staff, while the Karnataka government has shown no urgency to find a solution to the mess. <br /><br />The beautiful KSOU campus, built with taxpayers’ money, is unlikely to see any students at least until the next academic year. <br /><br />While the plight of students has attracted some media attention, hardly any interest has been shown to find out what kind of education was imparted by KSOU. No one has assessed the quality of the students that pass through it. <br /><br />One student who was selected for a teaching job through a competitive examination lost his job because his KSOU diploma is invalid. Many students who got job offers were refused when their KSOU certificates were found to be invalid. Some lost their chances to get promoted as principals or headmasters.<br /><br />A physically handicapped student from a poor family is unable to appear for UPSC despite having a B.Tech degree from KSOU. Some are unable to pursue higher studies and have to repeat their courses. An ex-service man failed to get the job of assistant professor although he was selected by the public service since his KSOU diploma was invalid. <br /><br />No solution in sight<br />Students have been regularly calling KSOU to ask when they will get their final marks, or when they can take final examinations, or when they will get their degrees, etc. They rarely succeed in getting through to anyone with authority at KSOU. When they do succeed, the response always is “soon.” The reasons for the UGC not granting recognition to KSOU, after it has agreed to abide by all the conditions set, are not known.<br /><br />Some students have approached courts with PILs. Some have written directly to the UGC, the MHRD, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and even Prime Minister Narendra Modi — so far with no result. <br /><br />Getting justice through the judicial process is likely to be complex and delayed, and uncertain. Since KSOU students are all consumers under the consumer protection act, having paid fees either directly to KSOU or indirectly through the study centres, they can approach the consumer courts individually or collectively as a group. Although these consumer courts decide quickly, it is not certain that the students will be able to get their degrees. At best, they may receive some compensation, since KSOU has obviously failed to keep its promise of awarding degrees even when the students have met the requirements. <br /><br />Perhaps only the prime minister can find a solution to the plight of these students. He should appoint a commission, with a retired high court or supreme court judge, a retired vice chancellor, and an activist lawyer, who should be required to submit their recommendations in one month, for implementation within two months.<br /><br />The affected students have been waiting for up to four years for a solution. Let us hope that Modi, who is committed to fight corruption and wants to create a New India, will find a way to help lakhs of KSOU students all over India.</p>
