In MVC2: Dim result = New JsonResult () makes the default result. JsonRequestBehavior = JsonRequestBehavior.DenyGet, while in MVC1 this is not so. Answer:
Function GetGridRecordset(ByVal qry As String) As JsonResult
Dim result = New JsonResult()
...
...
result.JsonRequestBehavior = JsonRequestBehavior.AllowGet
Return result
End Function
Now jqGrid works fine under MVC2 without changing the client code.