Osmania University VC appointment likely to be delayed
HYDERABAD: The Osmania University unlikely to get a vice-chancellor any time soon. In what seems to be a move to delay the appointment, deputy chief minister and minister for higher education Damodar Rajanarasimha has scrapped the search panel that had been tasked to zero down on names and in fact had identified some eligible candidates.
A file that was moved by the search panel to the minister was marked as cancelled by him with a note ordering constitution of a new search panel, officials in the know of things told TOI. The government has, however, not taken an official decision on the scrapping of the search committee. In view of the new development, the appointment of VC might take at least three more more months, officials said.
Ironically, the in-charge VC of the university, D N Reddy who is the VC of JNTU-Hyderabad, had also asked the government to relieve him from the post on May 27. The government, however, cajoled him to remain in office since his term as JNTU VC would end in August this year and he could step down as in-charge VC of OU simultaneously. It is understood that if a new VC is not selected by August, charge might be given to an IAS officer of the rank of principal secretary.
The university has not had a VC since January when the incumbent Tirupati Rao retired from office then. The search committee had shortlisted six names and sent to the higher education department for approval.
The officials said that they will wait for an approval from higher education minister and deputy chief minister, Damodar Rajanarasimha to restart the appointment process. The appointment will also be scrutinised by the governor of the state. This is the first time that the VC candidates are going through such a rigorous set of interviews, officials said.
Interestingly, though VC posts for Mahatma Gandhi University and Kakatiya University fell vacant around the same time as that of OU, they have already been filled. "The VC appointment of OU has become controversial following the demand from the students that a pro-Telangana candidate be appointed for the post. The government is concerned that any random appointment will further worsen the political situation on campus," said an official. Also, some of the senior professors of the university have complained against the selection process stating that it is biased.
The delay in VC appointment is expected to ruffle more feathers, students unions predicted. "There are several issues on the campus that need to be resolved including that of security of female students. Without a permanent VC on campus, not much of the administrative work is actually progressing," said an OU-JAC representative, T Ramakrishna.
Osmania University has stopped the recruitment of faculty members as there is no permanent VC on campus. "We are expecting the VC to be a non-controversial figure who is not related to Telangana agitation," said an Osmania University Teachers' Association (OUTA) member.
"The search committee had screened almost all senior professors of the university including those who have over 20 years of experience in teaching and administrative posts," said the official.
The files of Telangana University and Dr B R Ambedkar Open University have also been put on hold by the minister. Read More
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