Seeks inquiry into 'rampant irregularities'

Lokesh urges Governor to recall AU VC

Seeks inquiry into 'rampant irregularities'

AU became a hub of political appointments

UGC funds not spent for intended purpose

AMARAVATI (prajaamaravati): TDP National General Secretary Nara Lokesh on Sunday urged the AP Governor to order an inquiry into the 'rampant irregularities' in the Andhra University, Visakhapatnam, and take steps to protect the future of students and staff.

Lokesh wrote a letter to the Governor, raising concern over unchecked corruption, manipulation of professors' appointments, misuse of UGC funds and so on ever since PVGD Prasad Reddy was appointed as the Vice Chancellor of AU in November 2020. There has been a gross violation of multiple rules, norms, and acts in the administration of the university.

Lokesh said that the VC has been overseeing a corrupt regime of corruption by manipulating appointments to the detriment of professors from oppressed communities, misusing revaluation procedures, shutting down long-standing institutions such as the printing press and exploiting UGC funds meant for nurturing budding scholars. There was an immediate need to recall VC Prasad Reddy so as to prevent the downslide.

Recalling the glorious past of AU, Lokesh said the university had a rich history with vice-chancellors of great repute such as Cattamanchi Ramalinga Reddy and Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan moulding its destiny. Shockingly, a university with such a legacy was being now used as a place of rehabilitation for political appointments. He himself was present at a community-centric meeting during the 2019 elections.

Nara Lokesh said that many questions have been raised over whether the VC was loyal to his duties or to those who helped him to get the appointment.  The record of appointments, promotions, and liquidation of posts in the past year was clear proof of the AU administration’s prejudiced approach against professors, lecturers, and individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Lokesh said highly competent individuals were ignored for the sake of appointing loyalists who have either already retired or are junior in rank. A whole range of other such allegations were made against  the vice-chancellor. Appallingly, the acclaimed departments of philosophy and religious studies, Sanskrit, and Archaeology have been shut down. Many courses and specialisations have been either stopped or merged with other courses.

The TDP MLC took strong objection that lack of teaching staff was shown as a reason to bypass AU’s own faculty in making preferential appointments. Just as troubling was the non-availability of Rs. 100 crore, granted by UGC for 500 doctoral and post-doctoral fellowships, for their intended use. The recent  protests by students would further intensify if these issues were not resolved in a fair and prompt manner.

Lokesh said Andhra University has been one of our storied institutions, having nurtured many brilliant minds and impactful movements. It is saddening that such a legacy is being tarnished by one individual within a year of appointment. An independent enquiry should be ordered into the allegations raised against the VC. The rot at the heart of AU can only be reversed through such drastic actions.