High drama at KSOU BoM meeting; BJP MLC storms out

The Board of Management meeting convened by the Karnataka State Open University, here on Wednesday, witnessed high drama, with one of its members - BJP MLC Go Madhusudhan storming out of the meeting, following a heated argument with the varsity Vice Chancellor M G Krishnan and Board member K S Rangappa, who also happens to be the VC of University of Mysore.

It all started with Madhusudhan taking exception to the varsity’s recent decision to declare the Probationary Period (PP) of 48 teaching staff, despite the initiation of probe by Governor Vajubhai Vala into the matter.

Madhusudhan, said that not only was the matter being probed (along with several other alleged irregularities and scams, by the recently constituted judicial commission), the Governor’s office had instructed the varsity not to take any decisions regarding recruitments, declaring PP, and regularisation of employees, during the said period.

Probe against the varsity was initiated by Governor Vajubhai Vala on December 16. However, on December 31, the varsity declared the probationary period of 48 employees - 42 Assistant Professors, 5 - Associate Professors, and one Librarian, who were appointed by Rangappa at the fag end of his tenure in December 2012.

Following this decision, the Governor’s office issued a notice to the varsity on January 2 stating that no decisions were to be made by the varsity during the probe period. “Despite this, the varsity had the audacity to try and get the decision ratified by the Board. This is illegal,” he said, adding that convening the Board meeting itself was wrong, owing to ongoing inquiry.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, Madhusudhan also levelled a serious allegation that the varsity had “accepted bribes” from the 48 staffers, to declare their PP.

Further, he said that the varsity had not taken the Board into confidence when it had submitted its reply to the Governor’s show cause notice in December 2014. Both Rangappa and Krishnan brushed the matter under the carpet, stating that the former governor had given the varsity a clean chit.

“At this juncture I asked them to record my dissent, as I did not want to sit through the proceedings. They said that they would, but, they would also go by the majority decision of the Board. I could not take it anymore, and I walked out,” he added. Training his guns on both Krishnan and Rangappa, Madhusudhan said that the duo should step down on moral grounds.

“I will submitting a detailed complaint against the duo to the Governor in a day or two,” he added.

The BoM continued with its agenda, even after Madhusudhan's exit.

Important meeting
When contacted, Krishnan said that Madhusudhan had walked out, stating that it was not proper to convene the BoM meeting.

“The Governor had recently ordered the inquiry and it was very important to apprise the Board members. Hence the meeting was convened,” he said. He also said that the meeting “did not ratify” the PP of the 48 employees, but had decided to withhold the same, following directions by the Governor.
DH News Service