Row over control of State varsities keeps students in TS, AP on edge

Hyderabad: The clash over jurisdiction continues to give jitters to lakhs of students in the two Telugu States.

According to sources, the issues has been brought to the notice of the University Grants Commission (UGC) and Union Ministry of Human Resources Development (UoMHRD). However, the issue of jurisdiction of universities offering distance education courses continue to bother the students.

For example: Acharya Nagarjuna University (ANU) offering distance education courses is having its study centres in the State of Telangana. Tens and thousands of students from different parts of Telangana have been enrolling into various undergraduate, post graduate, diploma and other courses.

However, the Telangana State Council of Higher Education (TSCHE) has been objecting to the ANU offering its courses through its study centres in Telangana. Reason being, the TSCHE cites the UGC guidelines of jurisdiction and a State uiversity cannot locate its study centres beyond its jurisdiction.

According to TSCHE, Chairman, Prof T Papi Reddy as per the existing rules the ANU cannot locate its study centres and offer degrees in Telangana.

But, contradicting the same, the ANU invokes the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act-2014 (APRA-2014), and claims that it can locate study centres and offer the degrees through its distance education wing for a period of ten years, under the said Act.

Further, the Andhra Pradesh State Council of Higher Education (APSCHE) too supporting the claims of the ANU. Speaking to The Hans India, a senior official from the APSCHE said currently the Dr Ambedkar Open University as well as the Potti Sriramulu Telugu University both located in Telangana have been offering degrees. "Through its off-campuses located in Andhra Pradesh, as well as, through the distance education courses," he added.

It was against this backdrop that the issue of jurisdiction of the State universities continues to leave students in doubt whether their degrees would be valid.

The rules and regulations being issued time and again by the UGC, National Council of Distance Education (NCDE) continue to run counter to the provisions of the APRA-2014. The issue was put in the notice of the UGC as well as the UoMHRD.

However, even after five years of the bifurcation of the United AP, neither of the apex higher education regulators nor the Ministry has so far cleared the confusion, the sources pointed out.