Dr. P.V. Nanda Kumar Reddy has been appointed as the new vice-chancellor of Kaloji Narayana Rao University of Health Sciences (KNRUHS) in Telangana. The appointment was formalized through an order issued on Tuesday (March 18, 2025) by Telangana Governor Jishnu Dev Varma and Health secretary Christina Z. Chongthu. Dr. Reddy will serve a three-year term.
Dr. P.V. Nanda Kumar Reddy retired as the superintendent of Sarojini Devi Eye Hospital after serving as a medical professional for 32 years.
The appointment comes after a decade-long tenure of Dr. B. Karunakar Reddy, who had been at the helm of KNRUHS since 2015. Initially appointed as the in-charge Vice-Chancellor for a one-year term, Dr. Karunakar Reddy was later given a full-time appointment for five years, followed by a two-year extension under the University of Health Sciences Act. His prolonged tenure had drawn legal and academic scrutiny, leading to concerns over procedural irregularities.
The issue gained legal traction in 2022 when the Healthcare Reforms Doctors Association (HRDA) filed a petition in the Telangana High Court over the delay in appointing a new Vice-Chancellor. The High Court, in June 2023, directed the State government to clarify its position on the matter. Responding to the court’s directive, the Telangana government invited applications for the Vice-Chancellor’s post in June 2024. The eligibility criteria required candidates to have served as a dean for at least two years or as a principal of a medical college with a minimum academic experience of ten years.
Published – March 19, 2025 10:42 am IST
