Headless varsities restive

Works in the universities remain standstill

Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University-Hyderabad, Osmania University, Kakatiya University, Telangana University, Dr BR Ambedkar University, Jawaharlal Nehru Architecture and Fine Arts University do not have a VC

Hyderabad: The universities in Telangana have become restive with the lack of full-time Vice-Chancellors (VC).

“The decision making in these universities has come to a standstill with no VCs. While the government has appointed in-charge VCs, they do not take a decision on the financial issues of the university,” an Osmania University (OU) professor said.

Currently Osmania University, Kakatiya University, Telangana University, Dr BR Ambedkar University, Jawaharlal Nehru Architecture and Fine Arts University do not have a VC. Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University-Hyderabad (JNTU-H) has been added to the list of no Vice-Chancellors with the tenure of Prof. R Rameshwar Rao ending recently. Most universities are being run with all India service officers rather than appointing a person from an academic background.

A senior official of OU said that the last executive council and standing committee meeting was held in March and June respectively.

“Decision regarding construction of buildings, financial matters and academics in the university has been badly hit with lack of Vice-Chancellor. The current in-charge is overburdened with many departments and allots very less time for the universities matters,” said an official of OU.

“The lack of Vice-Chancellor would have bearing on the National Assessment and Accreditation Council’s (NAAC) grading, which is due for OU. The varsity is yet to receive letter of intent from NAAC for inspection of the university. A regular VC has to be there when the inspection happen in the university, as a VC would know the issues and solutions,” said a professor.

According to the senior official from OU, the varsity would not lose its A grading. “Several professors in the university are silently working towards the grading of the university. There is no possibility that the university will get less than an A grade,” the senior official added.

“The in-charge Vice-Chancellors have power to convene executive council and standing committee meetings. Except recruitment in the university all the decisions can be taken by in-charge VC. However, they do not do so fearing a problem in the near future. They are just there for namesake,” a professor of Kakatiya University remarked.

While the universities have been running without VCs from the past several months, so far the government did not issue notification.