On April 24, Prakash Babu, University of Hyderabad’s dean of students’ welfare (DSW), approached the members of the students’ union to give them a copy of a newly drafted constitution for the Union. The students were asked to review the document and recommend changes, which would be ratified by the Vice Chancellor.

Despite the old constitution mandating a University General Body Meeting (UGBM) to make an amendment in the prevailing constitution, the students claim that they weren’t informed when the amendments were made. “The entire process of drafting a new constitution was done without the knowledge of the students,” said Students’ Union General Secretary Suman Damera. “Also, according to the old constitution, a UGBM is necessary which hasn’t happened here,” he added.

Students claim that it is the University’s attempt to limit political activities on campus. “We had no clue regarding amendments in the constitution. The new constitution is aimed at curbing the political activities of students and dissolving the relevance of students’ union,” said Students’ Union President Kuldeep Singh Nagi. The new constitution will be in effect from August 15, 2017.

The new constitution has appointed Vice Chancellor Appa Rao Podile as the patron of the students’ union, adding to the students’ worries. “This will make students’ union a puppet in his hands,” said Students Union Vice President Bukya Sunder.

The other suggested amendment undermining the students’ electoral rights includes the creation of a separate council with 50% nominated members for the College of Integrated Studies (CIS). Creation of such a council would mean that CIS students can no longer be a part of the student elections. “When asked about this amendment, authorities replied that the students of CIS are not mature enough to participate in the campus politics,” Sunder claimed.

Since the death of Rohith Vemula, a PhD student at the University, administration has been trying hard to restore ‘normalcy’ on campus for over a year now.
In July 2016, when the University re-opened post Vemula’s death on January 17, 2016, CCTV cameras had been installed all over the campus and student gatherings in open spaces were prohibited as well. “What administration wants to do is that create an environment that makes students feel threatened, so that no one will speak against them,” said Asish Venkitesh, a student.

Another circular was issued earlier this year, which prohibited demonstrations and gatherings within a radius of 200 meters around its administrative block and near academic buildings as well as lecture hall complexes, hostels, residential quarters, shopping complex, and ‘Velivada,’ which was a hotbed of protests.

Protests and demonstrations are now allowed only at Gurbaksh Singh Maidan, an open ground far away from the admin block, or at the ‘open dais’ near women’s hostel.
The University has also prohibited students from pasting posters and notices on campus walls. Instead it would provide students with boards for the same, while limiting the time period that they can be circulated for.

“We are not curbing students’ activities. But writing slogans on walls is something beyond the limit,” DSW Prakash Babu told Newslaundry. “The administration can’t tolerate the method of protests that is being used on campus,” Babu added.

In order to resist administrative interferences, the students’ union has called for a protest on April 24 in front of the DSW’s office. Students also marked their protest by burning the circular. Also, clarifying that the constitution won’t be accepted until it was passed in the UGBM.

Instead of addressing the grievances of the students, the DSW filed a complaint against Nagi and 25 other students. Nagi and others were in violation of the circular which prohibited demonstrations on campus.

On May 10, Nagi received a show-cause notice from the office of chief proctor for ‘holding protest against DSW and spoiling walls with slogans.’

“When I went to the office of chief proctor, he asked me to write a letter regretting my acts. I refused to do it. I haven’t done anything regrettable except protesting against the administration for its anti-student activities,” Nagi told Newslaundry.

“If students have issues with the show-cause notice, let them make it clear in front of proctor,” DSW Babu said. Subsequently, two charges have been slapped on Nagi, who is waiting for things to unfold.

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