The UGC had accorded deemed university status to Vignan's Foundation for Science, Technology and Research at Guntur in 2009 despite the expert committees constituted by the UGC and the AICTE pointing out eight deficiencies with respect to faculty, infrastructure and courses.

Vignan is the only deemed university from the state to figure in the list of 44 institutions recommended for derecognition by the Union HRD ministry.

The state government too allegedly played a part in helping Vignan secure the "deemed" status by not responding to the UGC twice when it sought its view. The officials of higher education department are now accusing the UGC saying that it never approached them in the case of Vignan.

"As far as I know, the UGC has never sought our opinion on Vignan. I will verify whether the UGC's argument is correct," said Prof K.C. Reddy, chairman, APSCHE