Hyderabad: UoH students go on indefinite hunger strike against `premature' dissolution of Students’ Union

Hyderabad: Students at the University of Hyderabad (UoH) have gone on an indefinite hunger strike after the administration dissolved the Students’ Union 2024–25 prematurely.

The dissolution comes well before the completion of Union’s term and without announcing a fresh election date.

Students Protest Dissolution

Protesters gathered at the university gate on Wednesday, alleging that the dissolution was carried out without following due procedures, such as convening a University General Body Meeting (UGBM).

Students’ Union General Secretary Nihad Sulaiman M said the decision went against the consensus reached in an earlier discussion with the Dean of Students’ Welfare (DSW).

“Except for ABVP, all student organisations had agreed to hold elections in October during a recent meeting with the DSW. However, the university favoured the ABVP and decided to conduct elections this month,” he alleged.

He added that this was not the first such incident.

“Why should the university dissolve the union before its tenure? This is the second time the union has been dissolved without the UGBM. Five students sat on an indefinite hunger strike,” he said.

Administration Cites Guidelines

The UoH administration defended its move, stating that the Students’ Union 2024–25 was dissolved in line with the Lyngdoh Committee guidelines, which regulate student elections in Indian universities.

It also released the schedule for the upcoming Students’ Union 2025–26 elections.

Election Schedule Announced

• Filing of nominations: September 11–12 (till 1 pm)

• Scrutiny of nominations: September 12

• Withdrawal of nominations: September 13, between 2 pm and 4 pm

• Final list of candidates: September 13, around 10 pm

• Campaign period: September 14–16

• Silent period: No campaigning from 7 am, September 18

• Polling: September 19, 9 am–5 pm

• Counting and results: September 20

Standoff Continues

With five students on hunger strike and the administration standing by its decision, the standoff has brought the campus into a tense phase ahead of the polls. Student groups are now pressing for the reinstatement of the dissolved union until its term formally ends, while the administration maintains that it acted in compliance with existing guidelines.