Telangana Ministers’ committee assures to withdraw police from Univ of Hyderabad campus except for Kancha Gachibowli lands

Telangana Government to withdraw police from UoH campus, but not from 400 acres in Kancha Gachibowli, pending assurance from university administration.

The Telangana Government has announced its intentions to withdraw the police from the University of Hyderabad (UoH) campus,but not from the 400 acres land in Kancha Gachibowli, subject to assurance from the university administration about the security of the students and property of campus.

The government will address a letter to the UoH about this , the committee of Ministers, formed recently, told the representatives of the University. The committee said police presence to protect the 400 acres of land in Kancha Gachibowli was essential in accordance with the recent Supreme Court order.

The committee headed by Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and comprising Ministers Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy and D. Sridhar Babu gave an assurance to this effect to the University of Hyderabad Teachers Association and civil society groups when the latter called on them on Monday (April 7, 2025). All India Congress Committee (AICC) in-charge for Telangana Meenakshi Natarajan and CWC special invitee Vamshi Chand Reddy were also present.

The committee was responding to the issues raised by the teachers association during the meeting. The representatives wanted police force to be withdrawn from the campus immediately and prohibitory orders taken back. The recent cases filed against students involved in the agitation should be withdrawn and two students who were still in police custody should be released immediately.

Expert faculty and researchers, as primary stakeholders, should be permitted to conduct a damage assessment and biodiversity in the 400 acres land before the visit of the central empowered committee to the campus, they said.

Responding to the demands, the committee assured its sympathetic view towards all the cases filed against the students. Necessary action would be taken in consultation with the police/law department to provide best relief possible. In view of the Supreme Court’s order to prevent any activities and maintain status quo in the area, the government would not be able to permit survey by anybody including faculty, students until further orders from the court, as per a press release.

The committee responded favourably to a request made by students to visit the campus, but the visit could not be planned immediately in view of the ongoing Supreme Court order and possible controversy. The panel however invited the students for a meeting to hear their concerns and suggestions.