Established in 2006, Telangana University, within a short span of time, has gotten mired in caste politics and competition for one-upmanship among scholars, vitiating the academic atmosphere and future of students.
The lack of funds and power politics among faculty members are hampering the growth of this nascent varsity, set up on the sprawling 579-acre land, abutting the NH-44 near Dichpally, 20 km away from the district headquarters town.
It seems as if the varsity has not yet overcome teething problems.
There is no regular Vice-Chancellor after Prof. Akbar Ali Khan demitted the office and no regular registrar after Prof. R. Limbadri left the varsity. As of now, the varsity is getting by with in-charge registrar Prof. K. Yadagiri and a few professors holding administrative posts.
The academic climate at the varsity, having 18 departments with more than 1,600 students and just 82 faculty members, both in its main campus at Dichpally and South Campus at Bhikanoor, is plagued by a fresh controversy over alleged irregularities over admissions in Ph.Ds in Telugu, Mass Communications and Business Management.
A one-man committee with Dr. Nageswar Rao, Dean of Chemistry, Osmania University, was constituted to look into the issue. Prof. Rao visited the varsity and interacted with academicians and students on Tuesday.
Even if the committee report is not out, students are gearing up for struggles, demanding thorough enquiry into admissions and the implementation of Academic Audit Report on ineligible academicians.
When asked, Prof. Yadagiri said that interviews for admission into Ph.Ds in 13 departments were held in March and April last, but the admission process got prolonged due to rigmarole.
Some students also complained to the government alleging irregularities in the Telugu department, he said.
