Kakinada: Sri Potti Sriramulu Telugu University remains without key appointments including those of vice chancellor and registrar, even though the academic year has already begun.
Significantly, Telugu Desam founder and former chief minister late N.T. Rama Rao had established the Telugu University at Hyderabad and introduced 35 traditional courses like Astrology, Dance, Theatre Arts, Fine Arts and Music. He set up branches of the Telugu University at Rajamahendravaram, Kuchipudi, Srisailam and Warangal.
After bifurcation of the state, Potti Sriramulu Telugu University remained in Telangana. But the TG government stopped all funds to the university, even those related to maintenance, from 2019 onwards. No promotions had been given to the staff from Andhra in the University following which they went to court, which ruled in their favour.
Two years ago, the Telangana government stopped admissions into the university. The final batch students wrote the examinations last May. Presently, there are no students and faculty members except one contract lecturer of Telugu language at the Rajamahendravaram branch.
In the interim, students wanting to join the traditional courses have requested the NDA alliance government to introduce all the 35 courses in Sri Potti Sriramulu Telugu University and fulfil the objective of late N.T. Rama Rao.
Recently, following the representation of Rajamahendravaram Urban MLA Adireddy Srinivas, AP government took over the Telugu University in the name of Sri Potti Sriramulu, after Telangana Government renamed its institution as Suravaram Pratap Reddy Telugu University. At present, there are six permanent employees and five minimum time scale employees working with the Telugu University in AP and one part-time lecturer in Telugu language.
Sources said there is no need to obtain special recognition for Potti Sriramulu Telugu University from University Grants Commission (UGC) as it is already recognised. They wanted the AP government to exert pressure on the Telangana government to hand over 58 per cent of the sanctioned posts and 58 per cent of existence posts to AP as per the AP Bifurcation Act.
The Officer on Special Duty to Potti Sriramulu Telugu University told Deccan Chronicle that already the alliance government is pursuing the project of strengthening the Telugu University in AP. He said in the immediate terms, an in-charge vice chancellor should be appointed and five traditional courses like Astrology, Dance, Music, Theatre Arts and Fine Arts must be introduced in keeping with the aim of late N.T. Rama Rao.
The OSD disclosed that nearly ₹50 crore are required immediately for staff salaries, ₹15 crore for three sheds of 1 lakh square feet each, ₹5 crore for furniture and vehicles, ₹5 crore for beautification and ₹5 crore for developing the minimal infrastructure.
