Blaming the Centre and the University Grants Commission (UGC) for the present predicament of the Karnataka State Open University (KSOU), Higher Education Minister Basvaraj Rayaraddi on Monday said there was no question of closing down the university.
Addressing presspersons here, the Minister said although the State government was trying to revive the university, the Union government and the UGC were not cooperating.
“There are funds of over ₹450 crore with the university. After de-recognising it in 2014, the UGC had set some conditions to recognise it. We fulfilled the conditions and a Minister and I had tried to meet the UGC Chairman. But, I was denied audience for reasons unknown,” he said.
“Meanwhile, I personally met Union HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar four times requesting help in reopening the university. I also wrote three letters to him regarding this. He promised to help, but did nothing,” Mr. Rayaraddi said.
When asked what measures the State government was taking to revive the university, Mr. Rayaraddi said a five-member committee, headed by Additional Chief Secretary Rathnaprabha, had been set up to explore alternatives and the feasibility of reviving the university.
Admitting that he had limited control over the university as it was an autonomous body, the Minister said corruption, maladministration and wrong policies had landed the varsity in this predicament. When asked about Visvesvaraya Technological University forfeiting ₹375 crore to the Income Tax Department, Mr. Rayaraddi said that things were getting better after the new V-C had taken over.
