University must verify degree records and issue degree and genuineness certificates.

The petitioner sought a mandamus directing Karnataka State Open University (KSOU) to issue degree/convocation certificates, verify his marks cards, and issue genuineness certificates for his BCA and MCA qualifications, bearing Registration Nos. 0923LBCA14 and 12422LMCA526, for the periods 2009–2011 and 2012–2015 respectively

He asked the Court to dispose of the petition consistently with observations in an earlier writ petition.

The Court considered those observations, which relied on a coordinate Bench ruling concerning KSOU’s obligation to verify academic records and issue a genuineness certificate.

The petition was brought under Articles 226 and 227 of the Constitution, under which the High Court may issue appropriate writs and directions.

The Court relied on the coordinate Bench decision in Smt. Saraswati Biradar v. Karnataka State Open University and Others, W.P. No. 28903 of 2024, disposed of on 15 April 2025.

As recounted in the orders before it, that decision held that KSOU’s representations to a student, its admission of the student, permission to complete the course, and issuance of marks cards could, in the circumstances, estop KSOU from refusing a genuineness certificate; it also directed verification of the academic records and issuance of the certificate where appropriate.

The Court followed the approach taken in the prior writ-petition orders placed before it.

The Court treated the petitioner’s request as covered by the earlier KSOU-related orders and adopted their verification-based approach.

It directed KSOU to verify the marks cards and degree records rather than treating the qualifications as conclusively genuine without verification.

It also directed issuance of the degree/convocation certificates and genuineness certificate, applying the procedure described in the earlier orders.

The process was to be completed within eight weeks of receipt of a copy of the order.