HYDERABAD: The search committee from the Ministry of Human Resource Development for the appointment of a regular vice- chancellor for the English and Foreign Languages University (EFLU), visited the campus here on Sunday.
The three-member panel headed by Prof Narendra Jadhav, former vice-chancellor, University of Pune and member, Planning Commission and National Advisory Council, India, interacted with representatives of the administration, teachers, heads and deans of schools, non-teaching staff and students.
The other members on the panel are Prof Goverdhan Mehta, former vice-chancellor, University of Hyderabad and Prof Rama Rao, former dean of students welfare, University of Hyderabad.
“The committee interacted with different sections of the university regarding its vision and the road ahead for the university. The panel will make its recommendations to the ministry at the earliest,” said Prof Lakshmi Chandra, administrative spokesperson.
The students, who met the search committee, requested that an academician from outside the EFLU be appointed as the vice-chancellor. “Around 50 of us met with the committee and submitted our representation. We explained our understanding of the malpractices of the present administration over the last 2 years and have requested for an academician with no political background or support as our vice-chancellor,” said Mohan Dharavath, one of the student representatives. According to him, the search committee had assured them that no political intervention would be allowed in the matter of the appointment of a regular vice-chancellor.
“After the term of the last VC Prof Abhay Maurya ended in June 2010, this is the third search committee which is formed. One was formed in September 2010 and another in September 2011. Names like Prof Sukanta Chaudhuri and Prof B Gopal Reddy were cleared as the VC by the President of India but then, their appointments were cancelled with ministry’s intervention,” said Dharavath.
Over the last couple of years, EFLU has found itself in a number of controversies including regular student protests over the appointment of a regular VC. Md Miyan, VC of MANU University was given additional charge of the university which he turned down in September, 2010. Prof R Amritavalli has since then been acting as the incharge VC.