Mysuru: Here is some hope for lakhs of students who are caught between the Karnataka State Open University (KSOU) and the University Grants Commission (UGC) that has derecognised the former for violations of guidelines. KSOU Vice Chancellor Prof. D. Shivalingaiah has met the newly-appointed UGC Chairman Prof D.P. Singh to resolve the standoff and according to sources, the meeting was fruitful and the UGC Chairman has assured a speedy solution.

Prof. Shivalingaiah met the UGC Chairman at his office in New Delhi on Jan. 3 and the meeting lasted for one-and-a-half hours. Sources said that it was a one-on-one meeting where other UGC officials were bypassed as they had allegedly misled the UGC authorities on KSOU courses and this had led to the stalemate.

Following the denial of recognition and non-renewal of affiliation, the KSOU was forced to approach the Karnataka High Court that had, on Dec. 12, 2017, asked the UGC to give recognition to KSOU for 2017-18 academic year (non-technical courses) within two weeks of the order.

Sources said that the KSOU VC explained to the UGC Chairman about the corrective measures that the Open University has taken as per the UGC Act and the respective rules passed by the Karnataka Government. The VC presented the compliance report to Prof. Singh and placed a fresh appeal before him to grant recognition for the non-technical courses offered by the KSOU (for students of Karnataka only) for the academic year 2017-2018.

The VC also presented the full order of the High Court and explained the plight of lakhs of students who have lost the opportunity to study in KSOU.

The UGC Chairman was also given a full picture of the excellent infrastructure of the Open University. Sources said that the outcome of the meeting will be presented before the KSOU Academic Council meeting to be held on Jan. 9 and the Board of Management meeting on Jan. 10 along with the opinions of legal experts.

In New Delhi, Prof. D. Shivalingaiah also met Union Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers H.N. Ananthkumar and Minister of State for Human Resources Development Satyapal Singh and sources said that both the Ministers telephoned the UGC Chairman and requested him to end the stalemate at the earliest.

On his way back today, the KSOU VC will meet the Secretary to the Government, Department of Higher Education Jawaid Akhtar in Bengaluru and apprise him on the meeting with the UGC Chairman and chalk out the future course of action.