Mysuru: Mysore Grahakara Parishat (MGP) has requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to set up a Commission to find ways to help the students of Karnataka State Open University (KSOU), who are suffering for no fault of theirs since the past two-and-a-half years.

In a letter to the PM dated August 26, 2017, MGP Secretary Dr. M.M. Shenoi has urged him to set up a Commission with a retired Supreme Court or High Court Judge, a retired Vice-Chancellor and an activist lawyer to look into the grievances of the students who are waiting to get their degree certificates.

Shenoi has demanded that the Commission should submit their recommendations in one month, which should be implemented in two months. “KSOU had UGC recognition till 2012-13, which they failed to renew when it expired. As a result of de-recognition by UGC, lakhs of students all over India have become the victims of KSOU’s negligence. Since KSOU’s web page continued to show that it has the recognition by UGC, students continued to apply for admissions paying fees, and appearing for examinations. However, when it was too late, they realised that KSOU had lost recognition,” said Dr. Shenoi.

When MGP issued a press note asking KSOU students to send details on how they have suffered because of the negligence (some may even say outright fraud by KSOU) we got many such complaints — one even from Dubai. It was sad to read how students have suffered. Students waiting for promotions are denied promotion, those who want to go for higher studies are denied admissions, those who got jobs lost their jobs, etc. Many had paid money for degrees and certificates, which are now worthless, he has stated in the letter.

“When you are promoting ‘Skill India’ mission, it is of absolute urgency that universities like KSOU should function in a professional way. Your establishing a Commission like the one we are suggesting will restore confidence in students to seek higher degrees. We are optimistic that you will come to the rescue of lakhs of KSOU students so that they can join your efforts in creating New India as you announced recently from the Red Fort,” said Dr. Shenoi in the letter to the PM.