The Karnataka State Open University’s (KSOU) decision to decrease PhD entrance exam eligibility marks from 50 to 40 per cent has kicked up a controversy, given the timing of the decision.
According to the copy of the records available with Express, the Academic Council and Board of Directors took a decision to slash the marks after the results of the PhD entrance test were announced on November 4, 2o13.
Interestingly, the notification said that the 40 percent eligibility marks will apply only for 2013-14.
Candidates suspect that the cut-off was lowered to accommodate Kannada and Culture Minister Umashree who had obtained only 43 per cent in the entrance test.
There were 12 seats in total for PhD in Political Science for which 168 candidates had applied.
As per the notification issued on July 15, 2013, for a candidate to appear for the PhD vive voce, he/she had to secure 50 per cent marks in the entrance test. But Umashree scored only 43 per cent, rendering her ineligible. Within a month, the university slashed the eligibility marks through a notification issued on November 25.
Registrar K J Suresh (Evaluation) denied that the move was to help Umashree and said that the amended notification was on the lines of Kuvempu University.
He said there is a provision to invite all the candidates who have appeared for the entrance exam to attend the viva voce.
“We have asked Minister Umashree to attend it. Only eligible candidates will be announced in the final list,” he said.
Vice-Chancellor Prof MG Krishnan said the qualifying percentage was not mentioned in the notification.
“Later we thought of fixing the cut-off for candidates to attend viva voce as it is difficult to accommodate all aspiring candidates. It was fixed for administrative convenience and not to help someone,” he maintained.
The decision to favour the minister had met with opposition from MLC G Madhusudan, Member of Board of Management, KSOU.
“I opposed the proposal for reducing the qualifying marks as it affects the credibility of the programme offered by KSOU. But the V-C and Registrar did not consider it, saying that they cannot get sufficient candidates. They got the approval for the proposal only for this year. If their intention is good, they should have decided to continue it for next year also,” he said.
Strongly opposing the decision, Prof M S Thimmappa, former Vice-Chancellor, Bangalore University, termed it as arbitrary and unscientific, and meant to help an individual.
“Universities will lose their sanctity and trust of people. Deserving candidates will be deprived of their chance. Such practices at the academic level will reduce the quality of research,” he said.
Prof SA Bari, Vice-Chancellor, Kuvempu University said: “There is a provision to reduce the cut-off percentage for universities, but the Governor’s assent should be obtained after the proposal is approved in the Syndicate and Academic Council meetings. After this, the notification should be issued and exam should be conducted as per this. The same procedure is being practised in our university and no changes in the middle of the exam.”
Despite repeated attempts to contact over phone, Umashree was not available for comments.