Minister for Irrigation T. Harish Rao has come down heavily against the attitude of Andhra Pradesh government, particularly Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, on the issue of fee reimbursement. There is a conspiracy funded by some elements behind the haste with which AP is proceeding on Eamcet counselling, he alleged.
He sought to know how the notification for commencing the process of counselling from August 7 will be valid as the AP State Council of Higher Education has taken the decision without the consent of Telangana government, which is necessary according to the AP Reorganisation Act. Stating that Telangana is yet to finalise the modalities for fee reimbursement, the Minister said it is taking time as the government is proceeding cautiously so that only students of Telangana are benefited.
Nativity issueAddressing a press conference here on Thursday, he mentioned that the counselling was held from August 19 in 2013 and from August 27 in 2012. “There won’t be any loss if it is delayed by a month as the academic year can be extended once so that the benefit reaches only Telangana students and the bogus colleges, which have come only for fee reimbursement money, are identified,” Mr. Harish Rao said.
Stating that their government was committed to protecting the interests of only Telangana students, he noted that its petition before the Supreme Court was coming up for hearing on August. On the issue of nativity, he mentioned that in Madhya Pradesh Vs Joshi case the Supreme Court had made it clear that only States have powers to decide nativity.
Mr. Harish Rao reminded Mr. Naidu that it was his government that had issued a GO on January 16, 2000 stating that only those residing in agency areas prior to 1950 were eligible for jobs in ITDAs. “Instead of creating problems to the neighbouring government, he can better focus on progress of AP and welfare of the people there including taking up responsibility of fee for students from AP,” he suggested.
