KSOU charged with ‘tweaking’ minutes of board of management meeting

Mysuru: The state-run Karnataka State Open University (KSOU) is embroiled in another controversy. The latest pertains to allegations that meeting proceedings were written contrary to what happened in the board of management (BoM) meeting.

However, VC Sharanappa V Halse denied the allegations.

According to sources in the university, seven members of BoM raised their concern through a letter to the VC and sought video recordings of the entire meeting held on April 18. They also warned that members will lodge a complaint with the Lokayukta and urged the VC to publish the meeting proceedings online to ensure transparency.

According to the members, in the meeting they raised objections to various construction works proposed, running to several crores, printing of the learning materials, renovation of the kitchen of the university guest house in Mysuru city, installation of LED display boards on the university campus, procurement of printing materials, hiring the services of the housekeeping and security staff, etc.

During the debate, they said, one of the MLAs took a dig at the university officials, saying a new building can be constructed in the estimation done for the renovation works.

“Most of the proposals were running to several crores and the issue was brought to the notice of the state govt too,” explained a KSOU officer.

According to sources in KSOU, this episode raised new questions on how decisions were taken at the university. “BoM is the highest decision-making body in the university. If the meeting decisions are tweaked, the state govt must order a police inquiry,” said a university officer.

Denying all allegations, VC Halse said meeting minutes can’t be changed at all. “The meeting minutes are recorded properly and can’t be tweaked,” he added.