Changing UGC guidelines an invasion of State’s rights, says Revanth Reddy

Changing UGC guidelines was an invasion on rights of the States. This was against the constitutional spirit and the same would be opposed strongly, he said after unveiling the statue of BR Ambedkar at the BRAOU campus on Sunday

Hyderabad: Stating that the proposals to change University Grants Commission (UGC) guidelines was equal to usurping rights of the State governments, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to withdraw such plans.

Changing UGC guidelines was an invasion on rights of the States. This was against the constitutional spirit and the same would be opposed strongly, he said after unveiling the statue of BR Ambedkar at the BRAOU campus on Sunday.

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There was a larger cultural conspiracy behind taking control of educational institutions and universities in Telangana. Already, coordination has begun with Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala Chief Ministers and shortly Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister would also be approached to raise concerns over such proposals, he said.

As per the proposed guidelines, appointments of Vice-Chancellors made by State governments would be set aside and the appointments would be made by the Union government from New Delhi. The appointment of VCs through UGC would transform the universities into platforms for false campaigns, he said.

Lot of effort was put in to appoint Vice Chancellors for universities and focus was laid to avoid any scope for controversies. Apart from the responsibility perspective, there was a social justice dimension in the appointment of VCs for different universities. Instructions were also issued to the VCs to initiate measures for filling up the teaching and non-teaching staff vacancies in respective universities, he said.

The Chief Minister also said the Union government was discriminating towards Telangana in announcing Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan awards.

The State government had recommended the names of balladeer Gaddar, educationalist Chukka Ramaiah, writer Ande Sri, writer Goreti Venkanna and professor Jayadhir Tirumala Rao for consideration but not even one of them were considered. This has left us dejected, he said.

“I welcome the Union government’s decision for awarding Padma Shri to Manda Krishna Madiga. I will write a letter to the Prime Minister over the discrimination towards Telangana,” Revanth Reddy said.

The Chief Minister said the State government was planning to increase the retirement age of professors from 60 to 65 and make good use of their experiences. He also said the pending fee imbursement of BRAOU students would be cleared at the earliest.