Nine Universities in State have no VCs

HYDERABAD: Even as the new academic year commenced, nine universities in the state have no vice-chancellors including two major universities, Osmania and Andhra. In addition to the vacant posts of vice-chancellors in seven universities which are being run with the in-charge vice-chancellors from other universities, the term of vice-chancellors of Andhra and Acharya Nagarjuna Universities expired on Saturday. The situation could get worse in August as the term of another half-a-dozen vice-chancellors will come to an end.The state government on Saturday issued orders appointing vice-chancellors of Dr BR Ambedkar University (SV Sudhakar) and JNTUKakinada (Allam Appa Rao) as in-charge V-Cs of Andhra and Adikavi Nannaya Universities respectively with effect from Sunday. Similarly, Acharya Nagarjuna University rector K Viyyanna Rao has been appointed as its in-charge vice-chancellor.During the last one year the terms of vice-chancellors of Acharya NG Ranga Agricultural University (ANGRAU), Sri Padmavati Mahila Viswavidyalayam, Osmania, Kakatiya, Sri Krishnadevaraya, Adikavi Nannaya, Mahatma Gandhi, Telangana and BR Ambedkar Open University have expired. All these universities have been functioning with in-charge vice-chancellors from other universities.Though the state government appointed vice-chancellors to Kakatiya University in Warangal and Mahatma Gandhi University in Nalgonda recently, it served little purpose with the term of the VCs in Andhra and Nagarjuna universities expiring on Saturday.Responding to the state government’s notification a few months ago, about 565 candidates from different states applied for the posts of VCs in different universities.Though search committees were appointed for preparing a panel of three candidates to each university from those who applied for the posts, several of them were dissolved and reconstituted for reasons not known.Sources said that it would take some more time before these posts are filled due to various reasons like changes in UGC guidelines over appointment of VCs, political developments and administrative changes in the state government. Over the past few days the matter has been kept pending due to reshuffling of IAS officers at different levels and likely changes in the portfolios of ministers.“The situation could get worse in August as the term of many vice-chancellors including JNTU-Hyderabad and in-charge VCs of other universities will expire. The state government should act immediately and make appointments within a month.However, there is no communication from the state government till date in this regard,” said an official of the AP State Council for Higher Education (APSCHE).