HC issues notices to UGC on appointment of 2 VCs

DR THANGEDA Kishen Rao, VC of Potti Sriramulu Telugu University, is 71 years. This is also a violation of UGC regulations. The maximum age is 70 years, counsel said.

The Telangana High Court on Wednesday issued notices to the state government, the UGC and others, seeking their response to a PIL challenging the appointment of Dr Thangeda Kishen Rao as Vice-Chancellor of Potti Sriramulu Telugu University and Professor T. Ramesh as the ViceChancellor of Kakatiya University.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Hima Kohli and Justice Vijaysen Reddy dealt with the PIL filed by Dr G. Vidyasagar, a retired principal from Yellareddy Government Degree College, Nizamabad, challenging their appointments as vicechancellors. The petitioner contended that these appointments were in violation of UGC regulations. These regulations had been adopted by the Telangana state government, he said.

Satyam Reddy, senior counsel appearing for the petitioner, said those who were appointed as vice chancellors should possess a high level of competence, integrity and institutional commitment. This was not so with both the persons who were made vice chancellors, counsel said.

A vice-chancellor should have a minimum of 10 years’ experience as a professor or should have held an equivalent position, as per the UGC criteria. Prof. Ramesh, VC at Kakatiya, had worked as a teacher at Osmania University and did not have the experience as professor for 10 years, the court was told.

“Dr Thangeda Kishen Rao, VC of Potti Sriramulu Telugu University, is 71 years. This is also a violation of UGC regulations. The maximum age is 70 years,” counsel said.

The court sought an explanation within four weeks from the government, the UGC and both the VCs.