Bengaluru: The High Court of Karnataka on Thursday permitted the State government to implement suggestions of an expert committee, which has recommended to the State to initiate a one-time measure to validate marks cards issued to students of non-technical in-house courses for academic years 2013-14 and 2014-15.

Justice A.S. Bopanna passed the order while modifying the earlier interim order and clarified that the government can implement only those suggestions made under the title “recommendations to protect the interests of students” of KSOU. However, the government for now cannot act on the other recommendations of the committee, which was headed by Chief Secretary Ratna Prabha, who was then Additional Chief Secretary.

The court modified the order while hearing a petition filed by the KSOU Non-Teaching Employees’ Association, which had questioned the government’s power to constitute the expert committee to look into issues of KSOU while contending that only the Chancellor has such power. The association, however, had not challenged the issue related to protecting the interests of students as this subject was referred to the committee at a later stage.

It also suggested that KSOU take up a drive and ensure all students of previous years, prior to 2013, who have not been given marks cards and degrees are also addressed, and students who have not completed their courses of various batches should also be allowed to complete the non-technical courses and degrees awarded to them.