HYDERABAD: Osmania University (OU) has imposed restrictions on student agitations and protests on the university campus for the smooth functioning of the academic and administrative processes. The university had earlier issued a circular on March 13, restricting any on-campus protest activities.
OU Registrar Prof G Naresh Reddy issued an official statement on Sunday, clarifying that the circular was misinterpreted and misunderstood by various stakeholders. “The circular does not impose a blanket ban on student protests in open spaces within the university. The restrictions apply exclusively to the academic and administrative spaces within college departments and administrative premises.”
“The aim of the circular is to prevent disruptions that interfere with the smooth functioning of university. Unfortunately, recent incidents — unauthorised occupation of the principal’s room at Nizam College, disruptive activities at the University College of Arts & Social Sciences and the occupation of the registrar’s office for over four hours — hindered essential academic and administrative work,” the statement read.
Recognising the role of student movements, the administration urged the students to stage protests where they would not hinder academic and administrative functions. The registrar also reiterated that the circular was issued to ensure that the university provides a conducive environment for learning, research, and institutional growth.
“As OU strives to secure global rankings and gain national and international accreditations, it is crucial that we maintain a stable academic environment and efficient administration. Disruptions to such functions can have a detrimental impact on the university’s progress, affecting the quality of education and research that we offer,” the administration said.
Shortly after the decision came, it was met with criticism from the opposition parties, which alleged that it was an “attack on democracy”. BRS working president KT Rama Rao strongly condemned the move.
“Is this the democratic right of protest that Rahul Gandhi and the Congress claimed to uphold? If Congress truly believed in democracy, why is it resorting to authoritarian measures to silence student voices?” Rama Rao asked.
He also pointed out the repeated instances of the BJP-led Union and state governments cracking down on student movements in universities across the country. The BRS leader accused the Congress of following the same dictatorial approach in Telangana, “proving that it was no different from the saffron party.”
Not a blanket ban on protests: OU
“The circular does not impose a blanket ban on student protests in open spaces within the university. The restrictions apply exclusively to the academic and administrative spaces within college departments and administrative premises,” says a statement released by OU