Hyderabad: University Grants Commission vice-chairman Prof. H. Devaraj got his own back after the commission came in for some bashing from the Telangana education minister. He also threatened to stop liberal funding of colleges.

The venue was a seminar on the Choice Based Credit System organised here on Saturday. Speaking first, Mr Srihari, who is also Deputy Chief Minister, questioned the lack of quality in state universities and said, “There are really bright students in Telangana. If they go to the US, they work for 24 hours a day. But when they come here, their mindset changes. There is no accountability. The UGC is only doing the job of a post office, getting funds from the Centre and distributing them.”

Speaking after Mr Srihari, Prof. Devaraj said varsities lacked accountability. “We want to stop General Development Assistance. Thousands of colleges will suffer but we want to put in some riders. Till now we have done a post office job. Now on we will do policing.”

Apparently referring to TS varsities not having regular V-Cs, and their appointment against UGC guidelines, Prof. Devaraj said, “UGC will not interfere in the autonomy of state varsities. On selection of V-Cs, we have given some guidelines but the state is autonomous. You know who are the good people.”

He noted that 945 colleges were affiliated to Osmania University and questioned what it is doing to improve those colleges. Speaking about the implementation of CBCS, Prof. Devaraj said, “You want to give all core and elective courses, you give whatever you want. Why should you criticise the UGC? Why should I tell you what to do... If you have problems, come to me.”

The Telangana state government had criticised the UGC guidelines on courses as part of the CBCS. Speaking earlier, TSCHE chairman Prof T. Papi Reddy said problems in implementation of CBCS were caused by lack of staff.