KSOU yet to get nod for 2026-27 budget

Mysuru: Karnataka State Open University (KSOU), which has been battered by controversies, is yet to approve its budget for the 2026-27 financial year.With a majority of members of the university's decision-making body, the board of management (BoM), either belonging to or nominated by Congress, the university management is likely to face a tough task in securing budget approval.According to university sources, a BoM meeting scheduled on March 31 to approve the budget was adjourned indefinitely due to a slugfest between vice-chancellor Sharanappa V Halse and the state govt."A new date is not fixed," said BoM member Mahesh Sosale.Sources said other state universities had received budget approvals in the first week of March. "Generally, the budget should be approved before April 1. But this year, uncertainty is looming over the KSOU budget," said an officer from the state higher education department.Halse said that after he assumed office, university deposits had increased by a "whopping Rs 60 crores" and that there was no crisis at the university. He declined to comment on the delay in budget approval.Applications invited for VC postMeanwhile, governor's secretariat invited applications for the VC post of KSOU Thursday. As per the notification, May 10 is the last date for applying. Incumbent VC Sharanappa V Halse completed his three years term five months ago, and he is currently on six months extension.Fact-finding panel hears BoM membersThe one man fact-finding committee, headed by retired high court judge Justice BA Patil and appointed by the governor, continued its inquiry Wednesday.BoM members AH Vishwanath and Mahesh Sosale met Justice Patil and submitted their arguments."We explained to the committee how the university functions, and how BoM is kept in the dark over the various decisions taken by the university management. We urged the commission to take note of how the BoM was taken for a ride during the decision-making process," said Sosale.