Hyderabad university students call off indefinite protest, boycott of classes over land issue

HYDERABAD: The University of Hyderabad Students' Union (UoHSU) has called off an indefinite protest and boycott of classes against the Telangana government's plans to develop the 400-acre land parcel bordering the university land, after the Supreme Court stayed any future activity till further orders.

The indefinite protest and boycott of classes was called off on Thursday following Supreme Court's stay and the protesting students started attending classes from Friday, UoHSU Vice President Akash Kumar said. The UoHSU and other unions and parties aligned with it had launched an indefinite protest and announced a boycott of classes from April 1, against the state government's plan to develop the 400-acre land parcel in Kancha Gachibowli, citing ecological conservation concerns.

The Supreme Court on Thursday asked the Telangana government to explain the "compelling urgency" for clearing a large tree cover on a land parcel next to University of Hyderabad, and stayed any future activity till further orders.

The Telangana government decided to constitute a committee of ministers to engage in discussions with the UoH executive committee, civil society groups, students, and other stakeholders to address and find a solution regarding the land parcel adjacent to the university, after the Apex Court's directive.

The UoH students welcomed the Supreme Court's ruling. UoH Students Union president Umesh Ambedkar said the union would persist in its fight until the proposed plan to auction the land is scrapped and the entire 400-acre parcel is officially registered in the university's name.

The UoH students have also been demanding the withdrawal of police personnel from the university's East Campus (the site of 400 acres of the disputed land) and other parts of the campus and a petition has been filed in the High Court in this regard, Akash Kumar added.