Hyderabad: State Government Fast-Tracks Vice-Chancellor Appointments Amid Concerns
The State government of Telangana is moving quickly to appoint vice-chancellors (VCs) for 10 state universities. However, there are concerns about the selection process, with some questioning if “caste equations” and “in-breeding” might influence decisions.
The State Higher Education Department (SHED) has received around 750 applications from academicians interested in filling the vacant VC positions. The posts have been unfilled since May 21, when the tenure of the previous VCs ended. Although search committees were set up, the process was delayed due to the Lok Sabha elections. To manage in the interim, the State appointed IAS officers as acting VCs.
The process has gained momentum following an announcement by Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, who also manages the Education Ministry. The Chief Minister promised that regular VCs would be appointed soon. Search committees are expected to finalize the list of candidates in the coming days, after which the names will be sent to the State Governor and Chancellor of the universities for approval.
However, rumors in academic circles suggest that the new VCs might be selected based on “caste equations,” a practice alleged to have happened during the previous government’s tenure. Critics argue that choosing leaders based on caste rather than merit could harm the quality of education in the state.
A senior official from Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agriculture University (PJTSAU) told The Hans India that appointing VCs based on caste considerations rather than merit would not help improve the standards of higher education. The official emphasized the need for visionary leadership to bring about positive changes in education, research, and innovation—fields that have been neglected for the past two decades.
The official also recalled that, in the past, efforts were made to bring in eligible candidates from other states, such as Punjab and Haryana, to fill specialized roles at Acharya NG Ranga Agricultural University (now PJTSAU). These efforts helped the university grow, but such freedom to hire the best candidates has diminished since the formation of Telangana.
Another issue of concern is “in-breeding,” a term used by the University Grants Commission (UGC) to describe the hiring of faculty who have earned all their degrees from the same institution. The UGC has warned that this practice can negatively impact the quality of education and research at universities.
In contrast, central universities and other higher education institutions like IITs, NITs, and National Law Universities hire faculty from different states with diverse specializations. This helps ensure that their education and research programs stay current and competitive on both a national and international level. These institutions also bring in leaders such as vice-chancellors and deans from various parts of the country, avoiding the negative effects of in-breeding.
In summary, while the fast-tracking of VC appointments is a positive step, concerns remain over the influence of caste and in-breeding in the selection process. Many in the academic community hope that merit and expertise will guide these important decisions for the future of higher education in Telangana.
