Bengaluru: The Justice Bhakthavatsala Commission of Inquiry has issued summons to the present and former vice-chancellors and registrar of Karnataka State Open University (KSOU) in connection with alleged several irregularities in the varsity.
Reportedly, the Commission has considered KSOU former vice-chancellor Prof K S Rangappa (presently, vice-chancellor of University of Mysore) as first witness and Prof B S Vishwanath, who was Registrar, as second witness. Both have been served summons on June 19 to appear before the Commission.
In the summons to Rangappa, Justice Bhakthavatsala said, “Your attendance is required to give evidence before this Commission in connection with many alleged irregularities. Therefore, you are hereby required to appear in person before the Commission on June 22 at 11 am at Board of Management Hall in the Administrative Block of KSOU, Mukthagangotri, Mysuru, to depose. You may produce any materials or documents as you wish”, says reports.
As per the reports, If they fail to appear before the Commission, without lawful excuse, they will be subjected to the consequences of non-attendance as laid down in Rule 12 of Order of XVI of the Code of Civil Procedure Code, 1908. Similar summons was also issued to Vishwanath to appear in person at 3 pm on June 22. The commission will camp for three days from June 22 in Mysuru to record the statements of witnesses.
Reportedly, summons have also been issued to current Vice-Chancellor Prof M G Krishnan and Registrar P S Naik to appear in person on June 23 at 11 am and 3 pm, respectively. All tainted professors, deans, staff, will also be summoned at a later date to examine their roles in the irregularities, the sources added.
On December 19, 2014, the governor appointed Justice Bhakthavatsala, a former judge of the Karnataka High Court, to probe alleged irregularities.
Justice Bhakthavatsala is probing alleged irregularities in construction works, entering MoUs with private educational institutions, recruitments, promotions, opening of 21 regional centres, printing of marks cards, not laying statutes, ordinances and regulations framed by the University before the legislation, construction of five regional centres, tampering of marks cards, appointment to 48 post of Assistant Professors, Associate Professors and Librarian and absorption of 28 lecturers as Assistant Professors, appointment of persons to various posts like Group-C and D, DEOs, OAC; printing of study materials and prospectus of the varsity during 2010-14, purchase of computers and furniture for 21 regional centres, etc.
Earlier, MLC G Madhusudhana had said that the government should book a criminal case against Karnataka State Open University former vice-chancellor KS Rangappa and present V-C MG Krishnan for cheating tens of thousands of KSOU students.
(With inputs from Agencies)
