Yet another controversy broke out between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana States when Special Chief Secretary, AP Tourism and Culture, Chandana Khan was prevented by policemen from entering the premises of Dr. YSR National Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management (YSRNITHM) here on Monday by the police.
NITHM is one of the 107 institutions and Centres included in the 10 Schedule of the AP State Reorganisation Act to extend facilities and services to both the States without any discrimination and bias to people of the other State if the institutes are located in one of the States.
The Act also entailed that any change in the terms and conditions in these institutes should be done with mutual consent by the two State Governments or in case of dispute, it would be resolved by the Centre.
Yet the Xth Schedule institutions are becoming bone of contention between both the States after Telangana State started forming its own units and staking claim over premises located in Hyderabad. Andhra Pradesh officials contended that such unilateral decisions were in violation of the spirit of the Act.
Ms. Khan in her capacity as the existing chairperson scheduled a meeting for Monday to discuss the composition of governing council of NITHM with representatives from both the States. However, the Telangana government reconstituted the governing council of NITHM with Mr. BP Acharya as its Chairman on August 6 and held the council meeting the next day.
An agitated Ms. Khan on Monday objected to the police preventing AP officials from entering the campus to hold the meeting as it was a common facility and proceeded to the institute only to find the campus gates locked. “There were no protestors but only a posse of policemen,” she told The Hindu .
When the policemen refused to open the gate citing orders from higher officials, Ms. Chandrana Khan sat on the foot-path and conducted the meeting and left.
TS sticks to its gunsMeanwhile, Telangana Chief Minister’s Office in a release asserted that as per the AP Reorganisation Act 2014 and section 75, the institute is listed at S.No 100 in the 10 schedule.
The institute is situated in Hyderabad and as per the provisions of the Act, the institute which is physically located in Telangana will be managed by Telangana State where it is located. Its services will also be offered to the successor state of AP on mutually agreed terms.
The release pointed out that Pragada Kotaiah memorial Indian Institute of Textile Technology being situated in Nellore belonged to AP. By the same logic and provision of law, the NITHM belonged to Telangana State. It pointed out that the TS Government in a GO dated August 6 had posted Prinicipal Secretarty (Tourism) as the chairman of the institute and in his capacity has also conducted a governing council meeting that day.
‘Can not head the institute’Against this backdrop, the erstwhile officer, namely Special Chief Secretary of AP Government, can not continue to be the head of this institute, said Chief Secretary Rajiv Sharma.
TS Principal Secretary (Tourism) B.P. Acharya said instructions were given to the director to take steps for entering into MoU with the Andhra Pradesh Government for continuing services and education facilities to the students.
