In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,-
(a) “Chairman” means the Chairman of the Commissionerate ;
(b) “College” means a College affiliated to or associated with or recognised by, any University in the State and includes a Junior College recognised by or affiliated to the Andhra Pradesh Board of Intermediate Education ;
(c) “Commissionerate” means the Andhra Pradesh Commissionerate of Higher Education constituted under subsection (I) of section 3 ;
(d) “Government” means the State Government of Andhra Pradesh ;
(e) “Higher Education” means intermediate education and education leading to a degree or post graduate degree including professional and technical education ;
(f) “notification’ means a notification published in the Andhra Pradesh Gazette and the word “notified” shall be construed accordingly ;
(g) “prescribed” means prescribed by rules made by the Government under this Act;
(h) “private college” means a college imparting education or training established and administered or maintained by any person or body of persons, whether incorporated or not, or any local authority and recognised as such by Government but does not include a college,—
(i) established and administered or maintained by the Central Government or the State Government;
(ii) established and administered or maintained by any University established by law; and
(iii) giving, providing or imparting only religious instruction, but not any other instruction.
3. Constitution of Commissionerate of Higher Education - (1) The Government may, by notification, and with effect on and from such date as may be specified therein, constitute a Commissionerate for the purposes of this Act to be called the Andhra Pradesh Commissionerate of Higher Education.
(2) (a) The Commissionerate shall be a body corporate having perpetual succession and a common seal and shall sue and be sued by the said corporate name.
(b) In all suits and other legal proceedings by or against the Commissionerate, the proceedings shall be signed and verified by the Secretary and all processes in such suits and proceedings shall be issued to and served on the Secretary.
(3) The Headquarters of the Commissionerate shall be located at Hyderabad.
4. Composition of the Commissionerate - (1) The Comraissionerate shall consist of—
(i) a Chairman;
(ii) a Vice-Chairman; and
(iii) not more than ten members.
(2) The Chairman and Vice-Chairman shall be eminent educationists appointed by the Government.
(3) Of the other members referred to in clause (iii) of sub-section (1) —
(a) the Secretary to the Government in the Education Department or the nominee of the Government not below the rank of a Deputy Secretary of the Department, ex-officio;
(b) the Secretary to the Government in the Labour, Employment, Nutrition and Technical Education Department, or the nominee of the Government not below the rank of a Deputy Secretary of the Department, ex-officio;
(c) the Secretary to the Government in the Finance and Planning (Finance Wing) Department, or the nominee of the Government not below the rank of a Deputy Secretary of the Department, ex-officio;
(d) four shall be appointed by the Government to represent Professors or Vice-Chancellors of any of the Universities in the State;
(e) one shall be appointed by the Government to represent industry and commerce; and
(f) one shall be appointed by the Government to represent engineering or legal or medical education with a distinguished academic background; and
(g) one distinguished educationist to be appointed by the Government.
(4) The Vice-Chairman shall exercise such powers and discharge such duties as may be prescribed.
(5) Every appointment under this section shall take effect from the date on which it is notified by the Government.