Hyderabad: Universities campuses turn hotbeds of unrest
From PJTAU, BRAOU, UoH to OU, the varsities that are supposed to be hubs for academics and research turned into site of protests over issues ranging from land allocations and auction, to protest ban
Hyderabad: Universities campuses, which are supposed to be hubs for academics and research activities, have turned into hotbeds of unrest in the last one year.
From the State government’s decision to allot PJTAU’s land for construction of new High Court building, sanctioning five acres of BRAOU’s land to JNAFAU, controversial UoH land auctioning, to latest OU imposing ban on protests on its campus, the student and teaching community has upped the ante against the government and respective administration.
OU ban on protests on campus
The Osmania University, a historic hotbed for Telangana movement and other protests, sought to ban protests, dharnas, and raising slogans on the campus. The move triggered huge outrage among students, teachers and political leaders, accusing the administration of suppressing dissent of any sort, and stifling students’ voices.
Student organisations, which formed a Joint Action Committee, on Sunday have termed the decision as an example of authoritarianism on the campus.
Stating that protests are part of university life and that OU has always responded to social, cultural, economic and political injustices both in the State and country, the JAC comprising SFI, AISF, PDSU, DBSA, DMSA, MSF, TPJAC, STSA, SSF, and ASA among others univocally demanded immediate revocation of the circular.
The contract teachers joined the student community against the circular. Terming the circular undemocratic and dictatorial, the University Teachers’ Association (Contract) Telangana demanded immediate revocation.
Following staunch opposition from the student and teaching community, the university administration on Sunday retracted its circular, stating that it did not impose a blanket ban of protest in open spaces but in academic and administrative spaces.
UoH land triggers uproar
A few days ago, around 30 km away from the Osmania University, University of Hyderabad students rallied in large numbers to protest against the Congress government’s decision to put up 400 acres of UoH land, including the hugely popular centuries-old unique Mushroom rock formation, for auction.
Demanding immediate revocation of the decision, students said the move would destroy the sensitive ecological balance and the thriving flora and fauna of the area. To intensify their protest, students union, teachers’ association, workers union and non-teaching employees union of the university formed a joint action committee and supported by concerned citizens and environmental groups, decided to pursue legal avenues to challenge the land auction.
Calling the State government’s clarification that attempted to justify its decision, the students union conducted a huge protest on the campus, burning press release copies issued by the Telangana Industrial Infrastructure Corporation.
“We will be approaching the university administration on Monday regarding this issue as land documents are available there. Based on the documents and available biodiversity laws, we will explore all possible avenues that include approaching the High Court to green bodies,” said Akash Kumar, vice president, Students’ union UoH.
BRAOU land allotment row
The Congress government’s order sanctioning five acres of Dr BR Ambedkar Open University’s land to Jawaharlal Nehru Architecture and Fine Arts University in last September triggered a massive opposition from teaching and non-teaching besides alumni and intellectuals. The protest lasted for about two and half months, forcing the government to put the order on hold.
Agriculture university parts land for HC building
Beginning of 2024 saw a huge protest in Professor Jayashankar Telangana Agricultural University as the Congress government allotted 100 acres of the varsity land for construction of a new High Court building.
Students had protested allocation of the land, stating that around 2 lakh trees would have to be chopped and that it would affect the biodiversity of the area.
