Telangana govt appoints in-charge VCs for 10 varsities

Hyderabad: The Telangana government on Tuesday appointed principal secretary (MAUD) M. Dana Kishore as the in-charge Vice Chancellor of Osmania University and principal secretary (education) Burra Venkatesham as the in-charge Vice Chancellor of the Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University (JNTU).

They were among 10 senior IAS officials appointed as in-charge Vice Chancellors (VCs) for 10 state universities as the tenure of the incumbent VCs ended on Tuesday.

Karuna Vakati, secretary and commissioner of the women and child welfare department, has been appointed in-charge VC for Kakatiya University.

The government has issued orders for these appointments to ensure continuity in the universities' administration until permanent VCs are appointed. Search committees have already been set up for all the universities to identify suitable candidates for the VC positions, and the government will make definitive decisions based on the recommendations of these committees.

Syed Ali Murtaza Rizvi, energy secretary, will be in-charge VC for Dr BR Ambedkar Open University. Sandeep Kumar Sultania, secretary of panchayat raj, for Telangana University and Shailaja Ramaiyer, tourism principal secretary, Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University.

Navin Mittal, revenue principal secretary, will be in-charge VC for Mahatma Gandhi University, Nadeem Ahmed, planning principal secretary, Palamur University, Jayesh Ranjan, special chief secretary, in-charge VC for Jawaharlal Nehru Architectural and Fine Arts University. Lastly, IAS officer K Surendra Mohan has been appointed as in-charge VC for Satavahana University.

Laying down his office, Osmania University Vice Chancellor Prof. D. Ravinder expressed his gratitude and emotional connection with the university during his retirement ceremony.

Prof. Ravinder, who has served OU for 40 years, from being a student to holding the position of Vice-Chancellor, highlighted the developmental milestones achieved during his tenure saying, "My mother gave birth to me, but it was OU that nurtured me."

He emphasised the importance of alumni involvement and the establishment of the Osmania Foundation. The university community praised his efficient administration and contributions to OU’s growth on Tuesday evening.