Mysuru: With the University Grants Commission (UGC) delaying granting back recognition to the courses offered by the Karnataka State Open University (KSOU) despite many appeals and Court orders, most of the staff at the KSOU are busy with checking the authenticity of marks cards — whether it is fake or genuine.

With several fake marks cards doing the rounds, the University employees have a voluminous task of checking the records, sign, seal, security codes and the paper used to print the fake marks cards to ascertain its authenticity. Once the authenticity of the seal and security features is established, they will have to check the names of the degree holders with the help of ledgers and registers. Then they will have to cross-verify them with the data fed to the computers.

The Bengaluru Central Crime Branch (CCB) sleuths have recovered 517 marks cards of KSOU while arresting four accused in another case.

The CCB Police too came to the University campus in city last week and submitted the marks sheets to the authorities seeking authentication.

The CCB team contacted KSOU Vice-Chancellor Prof. D. Shivalingaiah and Registrar Prof. Chandrashekar and submitted the marks cards for validation. The marks cards included diploma courses, bridge courses and certain degree courses.