STATE GETS HC NODE TO IMPLEMENT KSOU REPORT
BENGALURU: In huge relief to as many as one lakh graduates of the Karnataka State Open University (KSOU), Mysuru, the Karnataka High Court on Thursday allowed the state government to implement the recommendations of K Ratnaprabha committee.
The committee headed by Additional Chief Secretary had submitted the report to the Higher Education Department in December last year. The committee was constituted to study the prospects of students who had graduated from KSOU before 2012 as the affiliation of the varsity was withdrawn by University Grants Commission (UGC).
In the report, the committee had recommended that those who graduated from KSOU prior to 2012 should be considered for state government jobs. There were 10 other recommendations in the report.
The KSOU Non-Teaching Employees Association had approached the court challenging the constitution of the expert committee on October 2017.
On Thursday, the court said, “The earlier interim order passed by the court will not come in the way of the government implementing the key recommendations of the committee.” Soon after the court order, Ratnaprabha tweeted about it, and hundreds of students extended their regards to her.
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Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao condemns removal of sacred thread during CET
Bengaluru (PTI): The controversy over the alleged removal of sacred threads and other religious symbols during the KCET examination intensified on Saturday, with Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao condemning the act as "inhuman" and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad demanding strict action, calling it a violation of religious rights.
Reacting to the incident at Krupanidhi College in Madivala, the Minister said the government had taken note of the matter and assured transparent action, even as police have registered a case and initiated an investigation.
“The inhuman act of asking students to remove their ear studs, bangles, hijab or sacred thread, and even cutting long sleeves with scissors thereby affecting their morale is unacceptable and condemnable,” Rao said in a post 'X'.
He asserted that examination centres must test students’ knowledge and not undermine their dignity, adding that the government would take stringent steps to prevent recurrence.
The Minister also urged affected students not to lose confidence, saying the government stood firmly with them.
Meanwhile, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Karnataka South, strongly condemned the incident, alleging that it had hurt the religious rights and self-respect of the Hindu community.
“The incident of students removing and cutting off their Janivaras during the CET examination has violated the religious rights, culture and self-respect of the Hindu community,” the organisation said in a press note.
Calling the sacred thread a symbol of religious heritage and dignity, it said, “Society will not tolerate any act that insults it,” and demanded a thorough probe and stringent action against those responsible.
It also pointed out that similar incidents had been reported in the state last year, terming the recurrence “unfortunate and condemnable.”
The organisation further alleged that such incidents were damaging the well-being of society and claimed that some schools and colleges are promoting hatred against the Hindu society.
The row erupted after students alleged that invigilators at the examination centre asked them to remove religious symbols, including the sacred thread, during the Common Entrance Test (CET).
Following the incident, an invigilator was suspended and police 'secured' three staff members for questioning.
The CET is conducted for admission to professional courses across the state.
