Tainted Vice-Chancellors can not go Scott free

VISAKHAPATNAM: The state government is planning to make major amendments to the Andhra Pradesh Universities Act, 1991 to impose restrictions on the powers of vice-chancellors. HRD minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao said that the state government will not let the tainted vice-chancellors in the state universities to have a free run.

Speaking at a meeting with principal secretary for education Neelam Sahni and Andhra Pradesh State Council for Higher Education (APSCHE) chairman L Venugopal Reddy at Visakhapatnam, he said that certain regulations in the AP Universities Act were serving as obstacles for the state government to initiate action against the tainted vice-chancellors and the amendments to the law is the first step in this direction.

The state government will constitute search committees to recommend a panel of names for selection of vice-chancellors for Vikrama Simhapuri University (VSU) in Nellore, Sri Krishnadevaraya University (SKU) in Anantapur, Rayalaseema University in Kurnool and JNTU-Kakinada. The term of these vice-chancellors will come to an end in November this year. The final meeting on constitution of the search committees will be held on October 14 and 15.

Srinivasa Rao said that a meeting between the officials of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana governments would be held to discuss the common entrance examinations for the present academic year.

'As per the 10th Schedule of the AP Reorganisation Act-2014, some of the common entrance tests should be continued in AP and Telangana states for at least 10 years. Hence, we shall discuss the issue with our Telangana counterparts at Hyderabad on October 13 for co-ordination with Telangana government to protect the future of students,' he said.

The APSCHE has approached the Apex Court to conduct the second phase of EAMCET counseling and further action will be taken only after its, he added.

Responding to a question on improving the quality of education, the minister said that with the number of private universities set to increase in the state, it was time for the government universities to gear up for the competition and minimise the lapses.

On the delay in issuing DSC notification, the minister said that the state government was willing to allow BEd candidates for SGT examination but the Union government had to give its clearance. He said that the notification would be released soon after the Union HRD Ministry approves the proposal.