Telangana HC issues notices to BRAOU Vice-Chancellor Ghanta Chakrapani

Petitioner contends that the appointment violates UGC regulations, which stipulate that a candidate for the role must be a distinguished academician with at least ten years of experience as a Professor in a university

Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court issued notices to Dr Ghanta Chakrapani, Vice-Chancellor of Dr BR Ambedkar Open University, and several government officials, following a writ petition challenging his appointment to the top post.

Justice K Lakshman was hearing the petition filed by one Dr B Kumara Swamy, a retired Associate Professor, who raised concerns over the compliance of Dr Chakrapani’s appointment with the University Grants Commission (UGC) regulations and other statutory requirements.

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Kumara Swamy contended that the appointment of Dr Chakrapani violated UGC regulations, which stipulate that a candidate for the role of Vice-Chancellor must be a distinguished academician with at least ten years of experience as a Professor in a university.

According to the petitioner’s counsel, Mahesh Mamindla, Dr Chakrapani’s academic service as a Professor falls short of the requirement, as he only has around 8 years of experience following his appointment as a Professor in 2009.

Dr Chakrapani also served as the Chairman of the Telangana State Public Service Commission (TSPSC) between December 2014 and December 2020, during which he was not actively serving in his role as a university Professor.

Further, the petitioner also raised concerns over Dr Chakrapani exceeding the statutory age limit of 60 years for the Vice-Chancellor position. The UGC regulations, as cited in the petition, prohibit individuals over the age of 60 from being considered for the top university leadership role.

The court also considered a request by the petitioner for a Writ of Quo Warranto against the Principal Secretary to the Governor, Raj Bhavan, Hyderabad, who had consented to Dr Chakrapani’s appointment.

However, Justice Lakshman objected to including the Principal Secretary as a respondent and directed the petitioner to amend the petition by deleting this respondent.

The respondents, Telangana Chief Secretary, and the Principal Secretary of Higher Education, as well as other relevant officials have been directed to provide justifications for Dr Chakrapani’s appointment, particularly in light of allegations that it contravenes the University Act of 1982 and other existing rules governing academic appointments in the State.