Hyderabad: Move to set up private varsities draws flak

Hyderabad: Questions are raised over the strength of some sponsoring bodies who cleared the process to set-up private universities in Telangana.

According to sources, in the State Higher Education Department (SHED) at least two to three of the sponsoring bodies who have submitted proposals to start private universities are drawing flak for violating the directions of the Union HRD ministry, All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), University Grants Commission (UGC) and the State government. Speaking to The Hans India, a senior official told that the sponsoring bodies in question have already been running a group of colleges in the fields of engineering, pharmacy, management and other educational institutions in the State. And files relating to the issue of letter of intent have been sent to the nod of Chief Minister K Chandrasekhara Rao.

However, now the officials have been receiving numerous complaints from the faculty and the non-teaching staff of the engineering college run by the same groups of institutions. "The colleges are facing allegations of not paying salaries to the teaching and non-teaching staff or that they are being paid partially, since March this year.

The complaints sent by various organisations and individuals to the State Education Minister Sabita Indra Reddy, State Education Secretary Chitra Ramachandran, AICTE, UGC and Union HRD ministry, highlights that the colleges are denying salaries citing the Covid-19 lockdown.

This is in violation of a series of circulars and notifications issued by the Centre, Union HRD ministry, AICTE, UGC and the affiliated universities.

Now, the question being asked is that, how can a letter of intent be issued to the sponsoring bodies which are not in a position to run the colleges in adverse situations for a period of two to three months?

What is nagging some in the higher education is, "How can they run a university and what would be the fate of the students seeking admissions and faculty employed in such private universities? But, the officials are tightlipped over the issue. Because, as per the regulations of the State Private Universities Act, the proposed sponsoring body has to establish an endowment fund and a general fund. Also, the legislation specifically lays down rules for the application of general funds.