Trying to reach an settlement with agitating students: UoH

Hyderabad: The University of Hyderabad (UoH) today said it is trying work out an settlement with 20-odd students who are protesting against the varsity administration here for the past two-days. A group of students under the University of Hyderabad students' union is leading an 'Occupy Admin' protest since July 5 accusing the UoH administration of taking "arbitrary" decisions pertaining to admissions to courses including Indian Diaspora and Human Rights.

They are demanding release of the result for centre of Indian Diaspora and Human rights, to fill exact intake as mentioned in the prospectus, to follow the reservation policy strictly among other demands. "In Centre for the Study of Indian Diaspora and Human Rights, the University conducted written entrance test and then came up with the statement that candidates cannot be accommodated," said the protesting students. However, UoH said its authorities invited representatives of the protesting students to allay their apprehensions on the admissions and to explain its position.

But, the students refused to meet the authorities and continued with their protest, though last evening three of their representatives met the authorities, a statement from UoH said. During the discussions, the university authorities made it clear that while there was no scope to admit students into the Indian Diaspora course, it would still explore the possibility of identifying adjunct faculty who would be able to guide PhD scholars and accordingly proceed with admissions, said the release.

However, the students have continued to protest in the portico of the administration building much against the university rules, it said. The protest by the 20-odd students during the day and about six-seven overnight is in clear violation of the university notification, it said.

The UoH further clarified that "while it is true that the University has incorporated submission of an affidavit as part of the admission process, it certainly does not intend to curb the right to freedom of expression nor is aimed at curbing protests on campus." In fact, in a notification issued on March 23, 2017, the university clearly recognises the right of the students to protest and has even designated spaces in which students can protest without disturbing academic units and the administration, it added.