Hyderabad, Jul 28 (PTI) Alleging that the Centre is trying to indirectly exercise control over states in the education sector, Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Tuesday said scope for errors such as leaks of exam papers would be less if education is handled by the states as much as possible.
Responding to the Telangana High Court’s directive to the Chief Secretary to relieve HYDRAA Commissioner A V Ranganath, he said appointment of officials is the state government’s prerogative.
The government has confidence in the judiciary, and it would face the cases in courts, he said.
He alleged that the Centre is trying to “snatch away” the powers in the domain of the state with regard to some examinations in the education department concerning rural areas. He, however, did not specify the exams.
“At least now, not only NEET but also other exams, the Centre should stop its attempts to indirectly exercise power over universities. Scope for errors would be less if education is handled by state governments as much as possible,” he told reporters in Delhi.
He felt that problems such as leaks of question papers are cropping up more when the exams are conducted offline.
He said the state government would take measures to prevent question paper leaks after the legislation against paper leak is passed in parliament.
On the High Court’s directive on July 27 to remove Ranganath as Commissioner of Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) while dealing with a contempt of court case, Reddy said HYDRAA is the “greatest reform” of his government.
Those who encroached upon government lands and public parks are “misleading courts” and also filed contempt petitions, he said.
“Appointment of officers is the prerogative of the government. None can snatch away that power. We have full confidence in the judiciary. We will face it in courts,” he said.
Referring to 63 contempt petitions filed against Ranganath, Reddy said a top official in the previous BRS government had 400 contempt pleas against him.
The state government has protected lakes, drainages and water bodies through HYDRAA, which would be empowered, he said. HYDRAA earned praise from various quarters in the country, he said.
Citing examples, he dismissed criticism that HYDRAA did not act against “influential people”.
A leader of the opposition BRS leader encroached Bathukammakunta lake in the city and later filed a contempt of court petition, he said.
Asked about BJP’s criticism against the pending dues of the tuition fees reimbursement scheme, Reddy said the government has taken measures for the fees reimbursement of students who are joining now.
The government is taking measures to pay the fees during the same year, and there would be no more pending dues in the state, he said.
An inquiry by the state’s vigilance wing is underway against educational institutions that tried to grab the funds illegally in the past.
He alleged that dues were to the tune of Rs 8,000 crore when the previous BRS government demitted office in December, 2023. The pending dues have become a burden to the government, he said.
Referring to criticism of BJP Rajya Sabha member from Andhra Pradesh R Krishnaiah and state BJP president N Ramchander Rao, the Chief Minister said they should talk about the pending dues of Rs 10,000 crore under the same scheme in the neighbouring state where the NDA is in power. PTI SJR SJR ADB
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