Sub-clause 43(2) of the Karnataka Janapada University Act was violated by starting the programmes without framing the required regulations and securing approval from the competent authorities, said higher education department
Haveri: Karnataka Janapada University at Gotagodi in Shiggaon taluk of Haveri district has come under govt scrutiny after it was found to have offered eight postgraduate programmes since the 2018-19 academic year without mandatory approval from the state govt and the governor, who is chancellor of the university. Taking serious note of the lapse, the higher education department on Sept 8 issued a notice directing the university to stop admissions to all eight courses immediately. The department said the university had violated sub-clause 43(2) of the Karnataka Janapada University Act by starting the programmes without framing the required regulations and securing approval from the competent authorities.
Instead, the programmes were started in 2018-19, and the university later sought post facto approval. The issue came to light after the university submitted proposals in June 2024 and March 2025 seeking approval for draft regulations related to the courses.
The university should have prepared regulations for the courses and obtained the Chancellor’s approval before launching them, according to the govt. The department has asked the university to submit a written explanation within a week on why disciplinary action should not be initiated under the rules. It also warned that any delay or failure in complying with govt directions would invite action against the officers and staff concerned. The communication, issued by Veerabhadra, under secretary to the govt in the higher education department, was addressed to the university registrar. In another instruction, the department directed that teaching and non-teaching staff appointed or assigned to these unapproved courses be relieved from service or dismissed immediately. During scrutiny, the department found that the programmes had been running for years without approval.