Mysuru: A probe panel headed by Karnataka State Higher Education Council vice-chairman SR Niranjana has recommended a high-level investigation by a sitting or retired high court judge into various allegations concerning Karnataka State Open University (KSOU).Sixteen months after the panel submitted its report to the state govt, the higher education department shared a copy of the report under the Right to Information (RTI) Act following directions from the Karnataka State Information Commission.The panel has also recommended bringing KSOU under the ambit of the Karnataka State Universities Act.The probe committee was constituted after a section of university staff garlanded the Registrar’s office with currency notes in March 2025 as a mark of protest. The report was submitted to the govt in May 2025.According to the report, prima facie violations were found in the recruitment of temporary teaching and non-teaching staff, promotions, establishment of regional centres, creation of new posts without the approval of the govt and the board of management, and allotment of study centres to private entities.The panel also raised concerns over transactions through a private bank and observed that a high-level inquiry was necessary to ascertain the facts behind several decisions taken by the university administration.The report also recommended a probe into the allegations of irregularities in a few study centres.Pradeep Giri, secretary of KSOU Permanent Non-Teaching Employees Association, said the report was shared only recently after he approached the Information Commission. “We demand action against those responsible for these questionable decisions and the withdrawal of illegal recruitments and promotions,” he said.Higher education minister Basavaraja Rayareddy was unavailable for comment.
