Hyderabad, January 19: The PhD admission in distance mode would be banned in all the universities in the State from the next academic year.
The decision was taken at a meeting held by the Minister for Higher and Technical Education, Mr Damodar Rajanarsimha, with the Vice Chancellors of 10 Universities.
Speaking to mediapersons after the meeting in the Secretariat, Mr Rajanarsimha said that the government has taken the decision in the wake of irregularities taking place in admission and awarding PhD in the Dravidian University.
As the Vice-Chancellors, who were present at the meeting, endorsed the decision, there would be no PhD course in distance mode, he added. He also pointed out that the University Grants Commission (UGC) has banned PhD admissions in distance mode. Therefore, the government wants to implement it in the State. He felt that there was a need to maintain quality in the PhD course. In addition to the committee of the university, experts from outside should also approve PhD thesis, he added.
The Minister disclosed that the Vice-Chancellors gave a presentation on educational standards, financial problems, block grant, land allocation, infrastructure development, PhD admissions and suicides of students under emotion due to recent agitations. The government has positively responded to the request of the VCs for 25 to 30 per cent hike in block grant. The hiked grant would be earmarked in the next budget, he assured.
“The VCs have been asked to strictly follow roaster system in recruitment of sanctioned posts and contract based posts. If roaster system was not followed, it will amount to disregarding social justice envisaged by Constitution of India”, the Minister felt. The VCs also agreed to follow Common Academic Calendar from the next academic year. The government has sanctioned 100 teaching posts for Andhra University, he disclosed.
Mr Rajanarsimha said that the appointment of Vice Chancellors in the vacant posts would be filled within one or one-and-a-half month. The process of constitution of Executive Councils of the universities would commence soon, he added. The VC and EC posts would be filled purely on the basis of qualification and capability of the candidate. Social Justice concept would also be taken into consideration while filling the VC and EC posts, he said, adding that there was no room for recommendations and influences in the appointment of VCs of the Universities.
Asked about encroachment of university lands in the State, the Minister made it clear that the Vice Chancellors have responsibility to protect the lands of the University concerned. The Vice Chancellor of JNTU, Hyderabad has requested the government to extend the lease of the land belonging to Housing Board for another 30 years. The government would hold a meeting with the officials of Housing Board and take an appropriate decision, he added. The government also assured to examine the request of the JNTU VC for a new campus on 100 acres as the present one has become congested with steep hike in number of students, he added.
Replying to a question on the decision of University students from Telangana region to boycott the semester examinations of post graduate courses scheduled to begin from January 20, the Minister reminded that the government has taken a decision in favour of MCA students for reconducting their exams along with PG examinations. What can the government do if they boycott the exams? The students should understand who would be the losers ultimately with the boycott of the examinations, he added.
NSS