HRF Condemns the TG Government decision to auction 400 acres of land at HCU

The Human Rights Forum strongly condemns the Telangana government’s decision to auction 400 acres of land in Survey No. 25 (P) of the Hyderabad Central University (HCU) campus through TGIIC. This land was originally allocated to HCU by the Government of India in 1973 for academic and research purposes. The ongoing protests by students, faculty, and staff against this unjust move highlight the significance of retaining the land for educational and environmental purposes.

HCU is home to diverse flora and fauna, including 232 species of trees, 14 endemic species, and 5 rare animal species. The university’s ecosystem also includes the Peacock and Buffalo Lakes, as well as historically significant Mesolithic rock formations. The reckless commercial exploitation of this land would severely damage the biodiversity and disrupt the academic environment. Despite past attempts by the government to allocate parts of this land to various institutions, the land was always meant for public and research-oriented purposes. The Telangana government’s recent auction attempt contradicts this principle and disregards the environmental and academic needs of the university.

Moreover, the heavy-handed response by the police, including the arrest of protesting students and the destruction of parts of the land using JCBs under police protection, is a blatant violation of democratic rights. On March 30, 2025, under police surveillance, several JCBs entered the campus and began clearing land, leading to large-scale student protests. Many students were detained and forcefully taken to various police stations, while students Naveen and Rohit from different student unions were booked under serious charges in Gachibowli police station. This kind of repression against peaceful protestors is unacceptable and must be stopped immediately.

Our Demands:

1. The Telangana government must immediately stop the auction process and allocate the 400 acres of land exclusively to Hyderabad Central University.
2. A comprehensive survey of the entire university land must be conducted, and the land should be officially registered under HCU’s name
3. All students detained on March 30, 2025, must be released immediately, and all charges against them should be dropped.
4. A biodiversity assessment must be carried out to protect the region’s ecological balance and historical significance.

M. Suresh – HRF HYD President.

Sanjeev – HRF HYD General Secretary.

Hyderabad,

31 March 2025.