Fate of the 20 lakh-odd intermediate students of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, would be decided on Saturday, when the Education Ministers of both the States are scheduled to meet.
Speaking to The Hindu , HRD Minister of A.P., Ganta Srinivasa Rao, said if the Secretary level talks in New Delhi remained inconclusive, then we shall hammer it out on Saturday in Hyderabad.
Both the governments have been at loggerheads over the conduct of the Intermediate examination and according to Mr. Rao, the demand by the Telangana government to hold the examination separately is unconstitutional. “Whatever be the case, we cannot keep the decision pending and will take a call after Saturday’s meeting. If they (Telangana government) do not agree to host the examination jointly, as specified in the AP Reorganisation Bill, we shall chalk out our plans to hold it separately,” he said.
The HRD Minister attended the Academic Senate meeting of Andhra University, which was held here on Friday.
On the setting up of IIM in the city, the Minister said IIM had already listed Visakhapatnam as its latest centre, and was set to operate from 2014-15 academic year. “Initially, IIM will operate from one of the colleges in AU, but will move within two years to Gambheeram area, where we have identified land for it,” he said.
On the retirement age of teaching staff at the state universities, he said the government had already approved the enhancement to 62 years from 60 years, but a representation has come to enhance it further to 65 years, which is yet to be considered by the government.
He also said plans were afoot to revise and amend the University Act, and senior professors will be given chance to become in-charge vice-chancellor on the superannuation of the serving ones and IAS officers would not be appointed to the post.
He also hinted that efforts were on to search for a suitable candidate to head the Damodaram Sanjivayya National Law University (DSNLU) in Visakhapatnam. “Present Vice-Chancellor is already on extension and we are on the job to find a replacement,” said Mr. Rao.
