HCU Teachers Protest Kancha Gachibowli Land Auction

University of Hyderabad Teachers' Association (UHTA) President Dr Bhangya Bhukya led a protest today against the auction of 400 acres of Kancha Gachibowli land adjoining the university, and the detention of its students by the police.

Over 200 faculty members and non-teaching staff, and around 700 students participated in the demonstration.

A protest rally was organised from Dr B R Ambedkar Auditorium to the East Campus, the site of the disputed 400 acres. However, the police stopped the procession, and some protesting students were reportedly brutally caned.

The rally then moved towards the university's main gate, where teachers and student representatives addressed the media before marching to the administration building to submit a representation to the Vice-Chancellor and Registrar.

The UHTA demanded that the State government immediately withdraw police forces from the campus, and halt the ongoing "destruction" using earthmovers on the Kancha Gachibowli land.

It also called for the unconditional release of the arrested students, and urged that no charges be filed against them.

The association also demanded an assessment of the environmental destruction that would be caused by the clearing of the disputed 400 acres. It called on the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India, to conduct the assessment.

The association also urged the university to submit a representation to the Forest Department asking for the forested areas to be declared as a bio-heritage reserve.

It also insisted that the university approach the court to demand compensation from the government for the 137 acres given to housing societies and the 18 acres taken for road development.

"Even though the State government claims ownership of the 400 acres, ownership does not grant it the right to violate environmental laws by cutting down trees and destroying animal habitats. The university has served as the custodian of this land for the past 50 years, preserving its biodiversity. The State government cannot override the university's custodial rights," Dr Bhukya said.

He added that the original 2,324 acres of land allotted to the university was explicitly designated for educational purposes, and the State government's plan to auction the land for commercial and multi-utility purposes violated the original order.