Kancha Gachibowli land row: Deputy CM Bhatti orders police to withdraw cases on HCU students

Hyderabad: Deputy chief minister Bhatti Vikramarka Mallu directed the police officials to immediately withdraw the cases registered against students of the Hyderabad Central University regarding their protests against the land clearing of the Kancha Gachibowli area.

On Monday in Dr BR Ambedkar’s Secretariat, Hau Teachers Association, civil society groups and sub-committee members, along with ministers Dudilla Sridhar Babu and Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, issued orders for further discussions.

Regarding the two students who are in judicial remand, immediate action should be taken to withdraw the cases, the deputy CM said. To withdraw the cases, the law department officials were directed to give appropriate instructions to the police officers so that no legal problems would arise.

Representatives from the University of Hyderabad Teachers Association (UHTA) and civil society groups met with the committee of ministers constituted by the Government of Telangana on the HCU Kancha Gachibowli issue. Meenakshi Natarajan, AICC in-charge for Telangana, and Vamshi Chand Reddy, Special Invitee, Congress Working Committee, were also present.

HCU teachers demand damage assessment survey

UHTA and civil society put forward the following common demands, which are:

1. The police force should be withdrawn from the HCU campus immediately, and prohibitory orders taken back.

2. All the recent cases filed against students involved in the agitation should be withdrawn, and the two students who are still under police custody should be released immediately.

3. As primary stakeholders, expert faculty and researchers are to be permitted immediately to conduct a damage assessment and biodiversity survey in the 400 acres of Kancha Gachibowli land before the visit of the Central Empowered Committee to the campus.

The participants conveyed that the Joint Action Committee of the students did not participate in this meeting because the above immediate demands have not been met by the government. They also conveyed that UHTA or civil society groups will participate in consultations with the Committee of Ministers only after the above immediate demands are met.

An open discussion was held on different aspects of the issue and the future course of action in a way that protects the environment and democratic rights of citizens.

No survey until court orders, say ministers

In response, the committee of ministers said:

1. Police presence to protect the said 400 acres of land is essential in accordance with the recent Supreme Court order.

2. The government will write to the UoH administration about its intention to withdraw the police from the rest of the campus, and subject to the assurance of the administration about the security of the students and property of campus, the police will be withdrawn from the campus, except from the 400 acres of land.

3. Regarding the demand for the withdrawal of cases on students, the committee assured of its commitment to a sympathetic view towards the cases filed against the students of HCU. Further, they will take necessary action in consultation with the police department/law department to provide the best relief possible.

4. Given the order from the Supreme Court to prevent any activities and maintain the status quo in the said area, the government will not be able to permit the survey by anybody, including faculty and students, until further court orders.

5. The committee is favourable to visit the campus as requested by the students, but given the ongoing Supreme Court case and possible controversy, the visit cannot be planned immediately. However, the committee invited the students for a meeting to hear their concerns and suggestions.

The government has taken due cognisance of other demands and suggestions made by the civil society groups and UHTA and assured of acting upon them in consultation with the citizens groups.