Leadership crisis at EFLU: University struggles without permanent VC for over a year

Despite the Ministry of Education re-advertising the position of Vice-Chancellor at EFLU on November 9, 2023, the post remains unfilled, leaving the university in a state of uncertainty. The situation arose after the regular Vice-Chancellor, Prof. E Suresh Kumar, completed his five-year term and one-year extension, and demitted office on December 31, 2023. Since then, the university has been functioning without a permanent VC, relying solely on acting VCs.

Hyderabad: The English and Foreign Languages University (EFLU) is facing a significant leadership crisis as the Central government’s hunt for a regular Vice Chancellor (VC) for university is yet to come to a logical end even after more than one year into search.

Despite the Ministry of Education re-notifying the EFLU‘s VC position on November 9, 2023, regular appointment has not been made till date, leaving the university in the State of limbo.

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The issue began after regular VC Prof. E Suresh Kumar demitted office on December 31, 2023, completing his five-year tenure and one-year extension. Since then the university has been operating without a regular VC, relying solely on the acting VCs.

In fact, Surabhi Bharati, senior most professor, who had been appointed as the acting vice chancellor superannuated in August this year. Following her tenure, another senior professor Haribandi Lakshmi has been given charge as the acting VC, who will retire next June.

The regular VC’s absence has already taken a toll on the university’s National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) re-assessment process. The university’s NAAC ‘A’ grade validity granted for a five-year period in 2016 ended in 2021. However, the university is unable to go for NAAC reassessment due to absence of regular VC. It is learnt that the varsity sent an interim self-study report and a full report can only be submitted after regular VC assumes charge.

Another major concern is complete paralysis of the EFLU’s executive council (EC), which did not meet since regular VC demitted the office. The EC is an apex decision making body that approves policies, recruitment and developmental works on the university campus.

Further, recruitment of both teaching and non-teaching staff have hit a roadblock. The varsity had notified about 180 vacancies, including teaching and non-teaching staff last year. Due to the absence of regular VC, the university has not been able to go ahead with further process.”The present administration has been doing its best in running the university,” sources said.

The EFLU VC post, it is learnt, attracted about 50 applications from across the country. Out of 16 candidates interviewed, five have been shortlisted. However, the Central government is yet to appoint.