UGC to KSOU: Provide clarification about PhD programmes

Mysore: University Grants Commission ( UGC) has written a letter to Karnataka State Open University seeking clarification regarding its website notifying course work examination schedule in November and December despite of denied permission for doctoral programmes by the commission.

UGC education officer Megha Kaushik on October 9 and 12 wrote to the KSOU registrar stating that UGC through its regulations of 2009 has denied KSOU permission to take up PhD programmes through the distance mode.

The DEC also issued a show cause notice in this regard. It sought clarification that despite lack of permission, the KSOU website still notifies course work examination in November and December.

Megha Kaushik also sought a clarification regarding ambiguity about their collaborative institutions and malpractice charges by MLA G Madhusudana, member of the varsity's board of management.

UGC received a letter on October 5 from Madhusudana complaining of malpractice and wrong-doing by the university. Kaushik requested the varsity to furnish the clarification to the Distance Education Bureau for further action regarding the complaint and on renewal of recognition of KSOU programmes in distance learning mode.

Expressing unhappiness over the conduct of KSOU authorities in offering the programmes Madhusudana wrote a letter to UGC joint secretary Renu Bathra, in which he mentioned that KSOU is conferring degrees, master's degrees and diplomas in technical and paramedical fields even though the university or its 203 collaborative institutes and 4500 study centres have the necessary infrastructure.

"KSOU in spite of swearing an affidavit before the UGC about discontinuing its relationship with firms and study centres has conducted annual examinations, evaluation, provided marks cards along with admission for second, third and fourth year students and had continued with the MPhil and PhD courses,"

Despite UGC notices and derecognision of courses, KSOU has sold certificates through these centres through corrupt practices, he alleged.

TOI