Mysore : In November, 2012, the water supply operator (WSO) plumber of the Karnataka State Open University, placed a request before the varsity for a promotion to the post of Junior Engineer, without hesitation his wish was granted, sources said. KSOU, just to accommodate the plumbers request, went as far as amending its own statute.
KSOU amended the Cadre and Recruitment rules of the posts of assistant executive engineer (AEE), assistant engineer (AE) and junior engineer (JE) prescribed in Statute 25, and sent it for Chancellors assent, on November 21, 2012 (former -VC K S Rangappas tenure ending period), without bringing it to the knowledge of the State government.
The Board meeting held on November 21, 2012, resolved to make amendments to the method of recruitment to the post of JE (Civil) to accommodate promotion from the lower cadre of WSO in the varsity, because Sadashiva had requested for a “promotion opportunity.”
“The WSO has requested the varsity to provide him opportunity to get promoted to the post of JE. It is true that WSO does not have promotion avenue in his services. Therefore, it is proposed to make provision in the Statutes in respect to the post of JE,” the board resolved.
The amended statute is now called, The KSOU (Cadre and Recruitment of the posts of AEE, AE and Junior Engineer)(Amendment) Statutes, 2012). But, even before the Chancellor gave his approval to the amendment, Sadashiva was promoted as JE on December 5, 2012. His salary was increased from Rs 17,650 to Rs 32,000, plus allowances.
The Chancellor gave assent to the same on January 30, 2013. Sadashiva is SSLC pass and holds a National Trade Certificate (NTC). A JE should at least hold a diploma. Likewise, S A Shashikumar, who too holds SSLC and NTC, was promoted as AE (Electrical), for which the Statute was amended on March 27, 2012, and sent for Chancellors assent, without the knowledge of the State government. Shashikumar was promoted on November 24, 2012.