Hyderabad: After completely absorbing the Andhra Pradesh State Council of Higher Education, the Telangana State Council of Higher Education has offered to carry out administrative activities for Andhra Pradesh if it requested the same.

But even as the TSCHE occupied offices and took control of assets, virtually disbanding the APSCHE, AP HRD minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao said on Friday that no work had stopped and that the APSCHE was still functioning. He said his government was examining all options. A day after asking banks to transfer all APSCHE accounts to its name, TSCHE officials occupied offices previously used by the APSCHE.

TSCHE chairman Prof. T. Papi Reddy had on Thursday written to his APSCHE counterpart, Prof. L. Venugopal Reddy, asking him to vacate his office. Barring the chairman, vice-chairmen and secretary T.V. Sri Krishnamurthy, all APSCHE officials are now working for the TSCHE. The TSCHE also recalled all vehicles allotted to officials of the AP government and even asked one or two APSCHE officials on deputation to the AP government to join its service.

An official of the former APSCHE said affairs pertaining to higher education in AP were now in a fluid state due to the developments. The TSCHE chairman, meanwhile, said that the body was ready to clear files pertaining to AP if the latter government requested it.

“We are ready to clear their files and carry out administrative work. But the AP government should request the TS government for that,” said Prof. T Papi Reddy. However, it is unlikely that the AP government will do so.

Mr Ganta Srinivasa Rao said the AP government was weighing its options on the issue. “The AP chief secretary will also talk to the TS chief secretary on this. No work of APCHE has been stopped. The office is there and everything is functioning,” he said.