The Telangana government is contemplating major changes to the State Universities Act, including replacing the single Chancellor system. Under the Act, Governor is the Chancellor for all State universities in Telangana and has the final say in selection of Vice-Chancellors.
Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, during a review meeting on State universities here Tuesday, felt a single Chancellor will not be able to monitor all the universities effectively. Based on experience in teaching and research, academicians and experts should be appointed Chancellors, he said.
KCR also wanted the State government to have the power to appoint Chancellors and Vice-Chancellors to universities. He stressed that the Universities Act must be amended to meet the requirements of the State and suggested that the State Council of Higher Education act as a nodal agency for the all State universities. Currently, the Telangana government is implementing the AP State Universities Act – enacted much before formation of the State.
Considering the pathetic condition of State universities in the absence of regular V-Cs, the Chief Minister directed the officials concerned to expedite the process of appointments. He told them to prepare regulations for selection of registrars and V-Cs and form a search committees to find suitable candidates. Currently, none of the State universities in Telangana has a regular V-C. On Tuesday, the government also appointed Prof Yadaiah as registrar of the Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University (JNTU), Hyderabad. Prof Yadaiah replaces Dr NV Ramana Rao.
Deputy Chief Minister and Education Minister Kadiyam Srihari and top officials of the education department were present at the review meeting.
Source: The New Indian Express