Hyderabad: Students demand action on OU irregularities

Hyderabad: Irregular promotions of some senior professors at Osmania University (OU) have raised serious concerns, with the University Grants Commission (UGC) confirming violations of key academic criteria. Promotions under the Career Advancement Scheme (CAS) were given despite some candidates failing to meet mandatory requirements such as ten recognised publications in UGC-CARE, Scopus or Web of Science journals, ten years of experience as a professor and supervising two PhD scholars.

The findings revealed that some promoted professors had only three to five publications, many not listed in approved journals. Those implicated include a former vice-chancellor of OU and a former chairman of the Telangana Higher Education Council, who are accused of enabling or benefitting from these irregularities. “It’s shocking that people entrusted with upholding academic standards are the ones violating them,” said Lenin, a member of the All India Students’ Federation (AISF) OU council.

Student groups demanded immediate dismissal of unqualified professors, recovery of salaries and pensions paid to them and the release of the Tirupathi Rao Committee report, which investigated these irregularities. “The silence over the report only fuels suspicion. If there’s nothing to hide, why not make it public?” questioned AISF OU secretary N. Satya.

The scandal also implicates heads of departments, principals and other academic leaders, highlighting deeper issues within the university system. The AISF has warned of intensified protests, including occupying the vice-chancellor’s office, if swift action is not taken. The controversy has sparked outrage, with critics accusing the involved parties of eroding academic integrity. Students are now calling for transparency and accountability, urging those implicated to resign voluntarily to restore the institution’s credibility.