Sunday, March 07, 2010
Varsity officials say it is a ‘simple error'

• RTI activist registered complaint with the police
• VTU asks 15 students to surrender certificates

Belgaum: In a shocking and unprecedented occurrence, the Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) awarded MBA degrees to “failed” students at the annual convocation held on January 7.

Ironically, the VTU authorities describe the gaffe as “not a serious matter” but a “simple error”. However, the incident has only added another smudge to the image of the only technological university of the State. The VTU has asked the concerned students to surrender their degree certificates immediately, but only after an RTI activist registered a complaint with the Belgaum Rural Police. In fact, the VTU administration has virtually denied responsibility and has blamed the “software”.

Confirming the incident, a senior official in VTU told The Hindu that the error occurred owing to corruption of software. The software failed to show “failed” status, he said. This particular software, supplied by a reputed company, is used only for ‘online examinations' conducted for MBA and M.Tech. programmes.

He said the error was noticed in 15 cases and the university had written letters to candidates directing them to surrender the degree certificates. He said all these cases belong to the Bangalore-based International Institute of Productivity Science & Management (IIPSM), a VTU's Extension Centre. The letters written by Registrar (Evaluation) S.A. Kori on February 8, after a gap of one month after the degrees were awarded, stated: “You are hereby informed to surrender the degree certificate to the office undersigned immediately, which was sent to you through speed post.”

Apparently, the university seems to have been cautious on accepting the so-called error on paper. The letters do not mention why the candidate should surrender the certificate.

Further, he said the VTU had already asked the software provider to supply fool-proof software. The matter came to light when the RTI activist, U. Gautham, lodged a complaint with Belgaum Rural Police on February 21 demanding action against VTU, represented by its Vice-Chancellor H.P. Khincha, Registrar K.V.A. Balaji and postgraduate coordinator at VTU Nandini Sidnal, for allegedly issuing degree certificates to failed students.

Also, Mr. Gautham has filed a writ petition (6550 of 2010) in the Karnataka High Court on March 1 in this regard.

Circle Police Inspector of Belgaum Rural Police Station said investigation was on. On its part, the VTU has assured that a three-member committee, headed by Dr. Khincha would look into the matter.