Even though Chief Minister Revanth Reddy claimed that he will provide a ‘people’s government’ and there would be no restrictions on freedom of expression and peaceful protests, imposing a ban on protests in the Osmania University campus has already created large-scale condemnation. In addition to it, a recent circular of the university imposing restrictions on the guests to be invited for academic seminars and conferences in the campus created another uproar.
Conferences, workshops and guest lectures are organized in various colleges and departments within the university. It is customary to invite university officials as guests for the opening and closing ceremonies of the respective conferences. However, the latest circular has instructed that names should not be printed on the posters of the respective programs without permission and that their permission should be taken first.
It has been directed that the opening and closing ceremonies of the conference should be limited to a maximum of 45 minutes. It has been stated that it is inappropriate to invite more guests to the stage and suggested that the press note related to the conference should be released only through the PRO and a copy should be sent to the IQAC department.
It has been stated that a one-page description and geotagged photos are mandatory for each program. They were ordered to inform them in advance about the details of the guests and invitees, time and venue.
The OU Teachers Association (OUTA) has objected to the decisions being taken by OU Vice Chancellor Professor Kumar and expressed its concern that the university’s reputation is being damaged by such decisions. To this extent, OUTA President Professor B Manohar has complained to the state Governor Jishnu Dev Verma.
He alleged that the VC is severely harassing the university’s faculty and requested the Chancellor to intervene in the developments taking place in the university. It is reported that the OUTA representatives, who have already written a letter to the Governor, will meet him directly in two to three days and complain,
Professor Ramesh Babu, of the Mechanical Engineering Department of OU Engineering College, has been appointed as the Registrar of Palamuru University. With that, he has requested the VC to relieve him. Even after a week, the VC is still not relieving Professor Ramesh Babu. This is a complete violation of the university rules.
When the representatives of the OUTA tried to meet the VC on this issue, he refused. Many faculty members who were appointed to such posts in the past were relieved from the university. The VC is not available in his office during office hours. This has made it difficult for the faculty members to take decisions on urgent educational and administrative matters.
Moreover, there are allegations that the VC is showing negligence in resolving the problems faced by the faculty and students in the university. The earlier circular issued banning all types of agitations in the university has led to chaos on the campus.