Andhra Pradesh Ousted Vice-chancellor may face criminal proceedings

Independent Media


Andhra pradesh: The state government is contemplating to initiate criminal proceedings against sacked vice-chancellor of Sri Krishnadevaraya University (SKU) P. Kusuma Kumari as per the report submitted by retired high court judge A. Hanumanthu.

It may be mentioned here that the state government had ordered a single member judicial inquiry committee chaired by judge A. Hanumanthu to probe into the irregularities allegedly committed by Kusuma Kumari in the recruitment of 23 assistant professors by flouting the AP Universities Act in March.

Apart from illegal appointments, the judge found that Kusuma Kumari had failed to place the report against K. Chiranjeevi Reddy before executive council members.

Chiranjeevi Reddy, correspondent of Suseela College of Education, was found guilty when the SKU dean of UG exams, Prof. S. Shankar Naik, caught him redhanded while writing the B.Ed examination on behalf of Chiranjeevi Reddy at the latter’s college in August 2008.

The three-member probe committee appointed by SKU authorities confirmed that it was a clear case of impersonation. A criminal case was also filed against him in Anantapur rural police station.

Justice Hanumanthu found that Kusuma Kumari had failed to take action against Chiranjeevi Reddy. Government is also considering prosecuting her for committing many financial irregularities in her day-to-day administration. It will also initiate prosecution for committing illegality in appointing three persons in the Centre for social exclusion and inclusive policy which is more than notified under the 11th plan scheme.

Meanwhile, Kusuma Kumari and 23 assistant professors who secured jobs in the recruitment drive, are planning to move court against government’s decision.

Highly placed sources in the higher education department said that the sacking of Kusuma Kumari was a warning to other tainted professors in various universities and Chancellor, Mr E.S.L. Narasimhan, who was determined to free universities from politics and irregularities, would initiate probe committees against the Rayalaseema University and Dravidian University for offering Ph.D courses in the distant mode without the UGC’s consent besides other financial irregularities.

It is learnt that a similar probe would be started against Kakatiya University authorities for allegedly appointing Warangal MP Siricilla Rajaiah’s wife Madhavi as an assistant professor, flouting norms. Tainted university officials are lobbying through ruling party leaders to obstruct probe committees against them.