The academic and general administration remained paralysed at Kakatiya University in the absence of a regular Vice-Chancellor and Registrar. Many teaching positions too remained vacant in all departments as there was no recruitment for a long time in proportion to the retirements and need.
Examinations are being held beyond schedule and announcement of results were taking much time than usual time. The Ph.D. admissions were put on hold for over a year, while the demands of non-teaching staff on pending issues take much of the attention of authorities.
Employees’ union leader Kola Shankar opined that there was an urgent need for recruitment as work in many departments was being carried on by contract and outsourcing employees, including in key confidential sections such as examination branch.
“The first and second generation employees recruited at inception of university and later retired. Many departments witnessed massive retirements in the recent past and teaching was done by contract and part-time teachers,” he explained.
The term of regular Vice-Chancellor expired on May 17, 2014 and since then many in-charge Vice-Chancellors assumed responsibilities, but they refused to take any decisions except for day-to-day activities.
The term of Registrar too was over in November last year. Senior faculty Prof. Singaracharya was made an in-charge Registrar, but he stepped down owing to pressure from different corners.
The Controller of Examinations M.V. Ranga Rao was made an in-charge Registrar, but he too stepped down citing pressure from students and employees.
The in-charge Vice-Chancellor, Veera Reddy, reportedly made it clear that he would not take decisions entailing finances until a regular Vice-Chancellor comes.
“Almost all the administrative positions are being continued on ‘until further orders’ with same persons. All decisions, including those involving in major research projects are pending,” explained KU Students’ JAC chairman S. Rajesh.
There are 228 permanent teachers as against the sanctioned strength of 383 teacher, while there are about 200 teachers working as part-time and contract. There are 549 non-teaching employees as against the sanctioned strength of 621.
