HYDERABAD: Osmania University warned illegal occupants of the university’s hostels on Tuesday that it plans to seek the help of police to evacuate them. The varsity also cautioned that it would not intervene if police conduct raids in this regard.
The university, in a media release, said it continues to bear the financial burden towards power and water supply though regular courses are yet to take off due to illegal occupants.
It also said that some hostels are in a dilapidated condition as they were built decades ago and overcrowding by non-boarders has compounded the problem.It said that as the new academic year is yet to start, this is an opportune time to fix all problems in hostels. It said that if non-boarders do not move out voluntarily, police will be take action.
Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee spokesperson and former OU Joint Action Committee member M Krishank said, “The university has proved a home to unemployed alumni from poor socioeconomic background till they get a job since the time of TS struggle. However, if the university wants to evict them, the decision of using police is condemnable.
They could have taken the help of its security or personally visited the students or met student union groups for these matters.” He further said, “Instead of blaming overcrowding of hostels with non-boarders and making them responsible for dilapidated hostels, authorities should come up with clarity on where are the funds promised by TS government to OU as part of centenary celebrations.”
Manavta Roy, president, Telangana Students and Unemployed Joint Action Committee said, “This happens every year. They cut power and water supply to evict students. They have started troubling students in Godavari hostel and E2 hostel again. The ongoing student agitation on campus is the reason why the administration is coming up with such interferences.”
Another release by OU claimed that it has records of several people staying illegally in the vacant faculty quarters which causes nuisance and unauthorised entry into campus or residential quarters.
Regarding this, the administration directed university security and police to first issue a warning to all members and lock the premises.However, OU Teachers’ Association president Professor Battu Satyarayana claimed that most of staff quarters in campus are in dilapidated condition and hardly 4-5 of them are occupied.
Varsity appeals to ACs to call of strike in lieu of NAAC teaam visit
OU administration, on the same day, also released a letter to appeal its Academic Consultantas (ACs) to call off their strike and to resume duties immediately in lieu of the NAAC team visit which is scheduled between August 17 and 19. The university said it would be an ill-advised move to stay away from hectic preparations under way for NAAC visit and that the contribution of ACs would augment efforts of the varsity to get better rating by the national body.