Dy CMs meet Governor over engineering admissions

HYDERABAD: Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Ministers K E Krishna Murthy and N Chinna Rajappa today met Governor ESL Narasimhan and submitted a letter protesting the formation of Telangana State Council for Higher Education.

"The Deputy Chief Ministers alleged in the letter that the Telangana Government Order (GO) forming the Council is blatantly illegal and inimical to the interests of innocent students whose academic schedule and future education prospects will be affected for no fault of theirs," a release from the Advisor (Communications) to AP government said.

Expressing anguish over the Telangana government's move, the Deputy Chief Ministers contended that the action of Telangana government will adversely impact the future of lakhs of students of both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, according to the release.

The representation to the Governor by the Deputy CMs came following a row between the two states on admissions to engineering and other professional courses.

"Section 95 of the AP Reorganisation Act, 2014, prescribes that in order to ensure equal opportunities and quality education for higher education to all students in the successor states, the existing admission quotas in all government or private, aided or unaided institutions of higher technical and medical education (as provided under article 371D of the Constitution) shall continue as such for a period of 10 years during which the common admission process shall continue," the AP government has said.

Krishna Murthy and Chinna Rajappa have contended that the move of setting up a separate body for higher education not only disrupts the functioning of AP State Council for Higher Education (APSCHE) but also affect the common admission process for engineering and pharmacy colleges that is already underway.

"Section 75 of the AP Reorganisation Act says that the Central government shall fix period of such common institution in any case of disagreement between two states," the release said.

The Telangana government made the move without even waiting for the Supreme Court's decision on the issue. The matter is being considered by the apex court, the letter said.

"The AP government requested the Governor to take appropriate measures immediately and maintained that "it is essential to protect the students from such whimsical actions of Telangana government." it added.