Kurnool: Universities in Kurnool on Sunday ignored the directives given by the University Grants Commission (UGC) to celebrate November 26 as Constitution Day. Kurnool is home to Rayalaseema University and Urdu University, both being the state institutions that derive their power from a statute passed by the Legislative Assembly of Andhra Pradesh which itself was the creation of the Constitution of India.
The UGC asked the universities to read the Preamble to the Constitution in the morning assembly on Samvidhan Divas otherwise known as the Constitution Day. The occasion is marked by the whole nation to commemorate the adoption of the Constitution of India. The UGC had also asked educational bodies to read out the fundamental duties and arrange for a lecture on the importance of fundamental duties on the occasion of Constitution Day.
When contacted, Rayalaseema University officials said that they did not observed any such function. Its spokesperson said that the Vice-Chancellor, the Registrar and two senior functionaries of the University were in New Delhi. The university has been facing a lot problems relating to governance and administration. Lack of transparency in recruitments has landed the University in a legal tangle with umpteen number of court cases, it is leart.
Dr Abdul Haq Urdu University Vice-Chancellor Muzaffer Ali told Deccan Chronicle that he was indisposed on Sunday and so he was not available at the University. Asked about the UGC directive to observe Constitution Day, he said that he had to find out from the staff whether such a programme was held.
Dr Abdul Khader, principal of Silver Jubilee Government Degree College, the premier Institute in South India run by the State Government, however, said that they had a week-long celebrations organised by the Political Science Department including a a mock Parliament, quiz competition, debate on fundamental rights and directive principles of state Policy. The KVR Government Women's Degree College, the largest women's college in terms of intake, also failed to observe the Constitution Day.
