Hyderabad, February 10: As the academic year comes to a close next month, nine universities in the State will see their vice-chancellors completing their three-year term too. With the government failing to find their replacements in time, these universities are likely to function under the vice-chancellors of other universities who might get an additional charge.
The term of the vice-chancellors of eight universities expired over the past six months. During last one week, the vice-chancellors of Acharya NG Ranga Agricultural University (ANGRAU) and Sri Padmavathi Mahila Viswavidyalayam completed their three-year term. Osmania University vice-chancellor T Tirupati Rao, who is in-charge vice-chancellor of the Mahatma Gandhi University at Nalgonda, will retire at the end of this month.
Though the State government has initiated steps to appoint the vice-chancellors, the process is not expected to be completed before the commencement of the next academic year.
Following a nationwide notification issued by the government to fill the vice-chancellor posts, 300 applicants opted for a specific university from among those listed while 265 applicants mentioned more than one option from among Kakatiya, Mahatma Gandhi, Telangana, Sri Krishnadevaraya, Adikavi Nannayya and BR Ambedkar Open University. Since then, there has been no further progress on the issue. The notifications for ANGRAU, Sri Padmavathi Mahila Viswavidyalayam and Osmania University are yet to be issued.
The delay in appointment of vice-chancellors is being attributed to various issues ranging from Telangana agitation and political turmoil in the State to implementation of the latest UGC guidelines providing more powers to the Governor in appointment of vice-chancellors.
As per the new guidelines, a nation-wide notification should be issued inviting applications from aspiring candidates.
A search committee will select prospective candidates and prepare a list of three names. Unlike earlier, the governor will have the final say in appointment of the vice-chancellors.
–Agencies