Court reinstates Andhra varsity vice-chancellor

HYDERABAD - The Andhra Pradesh High Court Wednesday reinstated Kusuma Kumari as the vice-chancellor of the Sri Krishnadevaraya University in Anantapur district. She was removed by the government earlier this month over alleged lapses.

In an interim order, the court set aside the government order dismissing her for alleged involvement in irregularities in recruitment of professors.

Justice N. Ramamohana Rao while reinstating Kusuma Kumari said her removal without giving her a hearing was against the principle of natural justice.

University Chancellor and Andhra Pradesh Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan sacked her Aug 2 on the state government’s recommendation.

The move followed a probe by a retired judge of the high court into allegations against Kusuma Kumari, 60.

The high court directed the government to provide a copy of the probe report to her and gave her a month’s time to go through the same and inform the court.

It was the first time in the state’s history that the government had removed a university vice-chancellor on charges of irregularities.

The issue had assumed political overtones with Kusuma Kumari accusing the K. Rosaiah government of targeting her for being close to the camp of his rival and Congress MP Y. S. Jaganmohan Reddy.

Kusuma Kumari is the sister-in-law of former chairman of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD), B. Karunakar Reddy, a loyalist of Jagan.

She challenged the government order in the high court and contended that she was removed without even giving her an opportunity of being heard.

She said she was sacked by the government in a great hurry as it came a day after the government received the judicial commission’s report.

Governor Narasimhan Monday defended the action against Kusuma Kumari and denied that there were any political motives behind it.