Architecture University issue: Nara Lokesh accuses Jagan Mohan Reddy of jeopardising future of students

Andhra Pradesh Education and IT Minister Nara Lokesh launched a blistering attack on former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, accusing him of jeopardising the future of students enrolled in Dr. YSR Architecture and Fine Arts University.

Taking to X, Mr. Lokesh wrote, “You committed the blunders, and now you’re trying to curse us for fixing them?” He alleged that the university, launched in 2020–21 under the YSRCP regime, lacked a permanent campus, full-time faculty, and regulatory approvals from the Council of Architecture (COA) for three consecutive batches.

The COA, after inspecting the university on July 1–2, 2024, found serious infrastructural and academic deficiencies. It later issued notices and, on October 25, 2024, officially denying approval for the 2020–21, 2021–22, and 2022–23 batches owing to non-compliance with standards.

Mr. Lokesh revealed that the university’s Executive Council, in a meeting on November 20, 2024, decided to appoint key faculty on an ad-hoc basis. The Higher Education Department approved this move on July 2, 2025, and informed the COA the following day. To avoid disruptions in the upcoming ADCET 2025, the government also requested APSCHE to appoint a new convener.

Permanent campus construction is in the pipeline, while efforts are under way to address the faculty shortage, despite a High Court stay on a recruitment notification issued during the YSRCP tenure.

Calling the previous government’s actions a “betrayal of students,” Mr.  Lokesh said, “They ran a university without buildings, staff, or permissions. Now they act like victims. We’re the ones standing by the students, securing their future.”