The auction of 400 acres of land belonging to the University of Hyderabad has become a contentious political issue in Telangana. To fully understand its significance, one must examine both its historical context and contemporary implications.During the peak of the Telangana agitation in the 1970s, hundreds of students sacrificed their lives in the fight for statehood and the protection of Telangana’s interests. The movement, which began in Khammam in 1969, swiftly spread across the region. A key demand was the implementation of the Gentlemen’s Agreement of 1956 to safeguard Telangana’s rights. Concurrently, a parallel Jai Andhra movement was underway. At the time, the Congress was in power both at the state and central governments. As the agitation intensified, then prime minister Indira Gandhi visited Hyderabad multiple times to negotiate with local leaders, ultimately announcing the Six-Point Formula as a compromise, on September 21, 1973. This formula aimed to address the backwardness of Telangana. To ensure its implementation, the 32nd Constitutional Amendment was enacted, incorporating Articles 371(D) and 371(E). On October 18, 1975, then-president Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed issued a Presidential Order, officially known as the Andhra Pradesh Public Employment (Organisation of Local Cadres and Regularisation of Direct Recruitment) Order, 1975. A crucial provision of the Six-Point Formula was the establishment of a central university in Telangana, which was subsequently incorporated into the constitution. The Andhra Pradesh government led by the Congress, in its commitment to the formula, issued an administrative order allocating 2,300 acres for the University of Hyderabad. However, the land was never officially recorded in the university’s name. Indira Gandhi’s trust in Telangana helped sustain a united Andhra Pradesh at that time.Today, the Telangana State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (TGIIC), under the Telangana government, has proposed the auction of 400 acres in Kancha Gachibowli for the development of a hub for IT and multinational corporations. The move has been staunchly defended by minister Sridhar Babu, an alumnus of the university, and chief minister Revanth Reddy.Aerial view of bulldozers at work in the disputed land adjacent to the University of Hyderabad. Photo by arrangement.Over the years, the university has already lost a significant portion of its originally allocated 2,300 acres to various entities, including TSRTC, the municipal office, Balayogi Stadium, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, and National Institute of Animal Biotechnology. Instead of safeguarding the university’s land, the Telangana government is exploiting legal loopholes and the lack of documentation to justify its claim. If 400 acres can be taken, what prevents the government from seizing the entire campus? Historically, successive state governments have encroached upon the university’s land under various pretexts. In 2004, during Chandrababu Naidu’s tenure as chief minister, 400 acres were allocated to IMG Bharata under a five-year memorandum of understanding for sports facilities. In 2005, the subsequent Congress government discovered that IMG Bharata was a fraudulent entity. Despite this, no government has initiated an inquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation into the irregularities of this land transfer. Revanth Reddy had notably raised concerns on this in the assembly then.Another critical question arises: If the university does not legally own the land, why did its Executive Council pass a resolution in 2003 to allocate land for a sports academy? In a 2021 ruling, the Telangana high court directed the state government to protect the university’s land and formally register it in the university’s name. However, instead of honouring this directive, the Telangana government is proceeding with its plan to seize more land. The government must consider the cost. The University of Hyderabad is a symbol of Telangana’s movement and represents the state’s self-respect. Instead of eroding this heritage, the government should work to elevate the university’s stature globally. Additionally, the Telangana government should advocate for domicile reservations for Telangana students by urging the university to expand its intake.The Kancha Gachibowli land is also one of Hyderabad’s last remaining green lungs. According to the Supreme Court’s T.N. Godavarman Thirumulpad judgment, it qualifies as forest land. Even before completing the demarcation and revenue survey, the state government attempted to clear trees to falsely depict the land as barren. Following a public interest litigation filed in the Telangana high court, the state constituted an expert committee to identify and de-notify forest areas. These actions raise concerns about whether the government prioritises corporate interests over public welfare.The university harbours rich biodiversity, including hundreds of bird species, reptiles, medicinal plants, and endangered flora and fauna. Several academic studies and journal articles have documented its ecological significance. It is home to ancient rock formations, such as mushroom rocks, and four lakes that sustain local wildlife. Shockingly, without conducting any ecological surveys or Environmental Impact Assessments, chief minister Reddy dismissed concerns about the land’s forest status. Even though his much-publicised HYDRAA project has demolished numerous buildings in Hyderabad, he appears indifferent to the environmental consequences of erasing the university’s natural landscape. Demolition carried out by HYDRAA on a lake bed. Photo: By arrangement.In the assembly, Revanth Reddy remarked that there are no lions or tigers, only “cunning foxes” hindering development. Such rhetoric is unbecoming of a chief minister. The Congress, which positions itself as a champion against privatisation and the policies of the Union government, contradicts its own stance through these actions. Branding protesting students, teachers, and civil society members as “cunning foxes” undermines democratic discourse. The University of Hyderabad is not just an academic institution; it is a cultural and historical landmark of Telangana.Globally, esteemed institutions like Oxford and Stanford possess vast campuses to support their academic endeavours. However, in India, universities are repeatedly targeted for political and economic interests. While the university is already grappling with financial constraints due to fund cuts from the Union government, this move by the Congress government constitutes a dual assault on its existence. The Congress must not disregard its historical responsibilities, the legacy of Indira Gandhi, and its commitment to Telangana’s interests. Senior Congress leaders must break their silence on this issue. The opposition parties in Telangana must also recognise the gravity of the situation and resist the sale of the university’s land to safeguard the future of higher education and the environment.G. Mohith is a research scholar at the department of political science, University of Hyderabad, and an SFI activist.
