4 months ago
1
Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot has appointed a one-man fact-finding committee headed by retired Karnataka High Court justice B.A. Patil to probe the charges of corruption successful Karnataka State Open University (KSOU).
The probe ordered by the Governor, who is besides the Chancellor of Universities, follows the allegations of bribery and corruption against the erstwhile registrar (admin) of KSOU. This had led to a protestation by the university’s employees successful March past year.
The presumption of notation for the probe, arsenic per a notification dated January 30, 2026, issued by the Governor’s Secretariat, includes assignment of impermanent teaching and non-teaching unit for much than the sanctioned posts, too the alteration successful designations.
The presumption besides see opening of unnecessary determination centres and assignment of impermanent directors for the determination centres, isolated from the instauration of posts without the support of the State authorities and the Board of Management.
Permissions fixed to unfastened backstage survey centres and a deposit of ₹1.71 lakh to the Virtual Education Trust, New Delhi, besides fig successful the presumption of reference.
‘Report successful 1 month’
The one-man fact-finding committee has been asked to inquire into the issues listed successful the presumption of notation and immoderate different issues related to oregon arising during the people of enquiry and taxable the study wrong 1 month.
It whitethorn beryllium mentioned present that the allegations of corruption and the protestation successful March 2025, which appeared successful the media, were discussed successful the Legislative Assembly.
The Additional Chief Secretary to the State government’s Department of Education (Higher Education) had directed Karnataka State Higher Education Council (KSHEC) vice-chairperson S.R. Niranjana to inquire into the allegations by visiting the assemblage successful idiosyncratic to cod the worldly evidence.
The study of the preliminary inspection conducted by the vice-chairperson to ascertain facts observed “serious lapses”.
Based connected the proposal of the report, the State authorities had sought the support from the Governor to represent an enquiry committee headed by a retired High Court justice to behaviour a probe nether Section 8 of the KSOU Act 1992.
The Governor has besides directed the registrar of KSOU to supply secretarial assistance, office, transport and accommodation for the fact-finding committee.
