Telangana University VC empowered after court order

HYDERABAD: In a huge relief to vice-chancellor of Telangana University Professor D Ravinder Gupta, Justice K Sarath of Telangana high court on Friday stayed the resolutions taken by the higher education secretary and senior officials aimed at denigrating the authority of the VC.
The officials took several decisions on April 19 that practically nullified scores of decisions taken by Ravinder and had also brought in a new registrar. The judge adjourned the case to June.
The government officials claimed that they took the decisions in their capacity as executive council members of Nizamabad-based university, whereas the VC was alleging that state machinery was virtually usurping his powers as VC without the sanction of the law.
The state officials also charged the VC with indulging in corruption in several appointments and had even gone to the extent of ordering probes.
Stating that only the chancellor — governor of the state — has the powers to take action against him, the VC knocked the door of the high court seeking justice.
Senior counsel Deepak Bhattacharji, who appeared for the VC, said the state government and officials were acting against Professor Ravinder and their actions have almost suspended him from service.
A member of the executive council was asked to discharge the duties of the VC and this was being done without information or permission from the chancellor who alone has got powers to act in such matters, Deepak said.
The state officials’ actions were reducing the status of the varsity and its VC to a low level, the senior counsel said. Professor Ravinder assumed charge as VC in May 2021 and has 30 years of experience in the teaching sector.