Hyderabad: The State Government has decided to drop the cases filed against students who protested against the cutting of trees on 400 acres of government land near Hyderabad Central University (HCU). However, the government has refused the University Teachers Association’s request to remove police forces from the disputed land.
A group of ministers, assigned to find a solution to the Kancha Gachibowli land issue, held a meeting on Monday with university teachers and civil society groups. Surprisingly, Congress leader and Telangana Congress in-charge, Meenakshi Natarajan, also attended the meeting. Her presence came despite earlier objections raised by the BJP.
During the meeting, the committee assured teachers that it would take a sympathetic view of the student cases and seek advice from the police and legal departments on how to provide maximum relief. The government also said it would write to the university administration about its plan to withdraw police from the rest of the campus, except the 400-acre disputed area. Police removal would depend on the university ensuring student and property safety.
The committee explained that police presence in the 400-acre land was necessary due to a recent Supreme Court order. Therefore, the government would not remove police from that section.
Additionally, the committee turned down the request to conduct a survey on the land where trees were cut. Minister Bhatti stated that the Supreme Court had ordered a status quo in the area, meaning no activity, including surveys by students or faculty, could take place unless the Court allows it in the future.
While the committee was open to visiting the campus as students had requested, it said such a visit could not happen now because of the ongoing Supreme Court case. Instead, the committee invited students to meet and share their views and suggestions.
