BRAOU, Telugu universities asked to continue in Andhra

The Hyderabad High Court on Friday directed B.R. Ambedkar Open University (BRAOU) and Potti Sriramulu Telugu University to continue their services in Andhra Pradesh. Passing the interim orders, the court asked Andhra Pradesh government to pay salaries of the employees of the two universities at their study centres located in that state.

While adjourning the case for final hearing, the court asked the central government to solve the issue in eight weeks by finalising modalities for the functioning of the two universities as per Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act.

The universities had become victims of post-bifurcation rows between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. About 500 employees of BRAOU at 92 study centres across Andhra Pradesh were not paid salaries for two months. The university was also not releasing monthly maintenance funds for the study centres.

The Telangana government had stopped paying salaries and paying for other expenditure at 92 study circles of BRAOU and three 'sahityapeetalu' of Telugu university in Andhra Pradesh. This raised uncertainty over the employees and over 3.5 lakh students. The main campuses of the two universities are located in Hyderabad. The Telangana government informed the court that it so far spent Rs.14 crore on payment salaries to the staff at study circles in Andhra Pradesh.