OU tense: Beef fest today

Hyderabad: Tension continues to prevail in Osmania University on Wednesday as police were ready to make preventive arrests of organisers of the ‘beef festival’ even as the students confined themselves to hostels.

While the students belonging to Democratic Cultural Forum were hell-bent on their decision to hold the proposed beef festival on December 10 despite the High Court upholding the order of the city civil court not to allow any such festival, police personnel vowed to stall the festival. Even the university administration had refused permission. But the students said they did not receive any order from the Court and hence they would go ahead with the fest.

On Wednesday, the two-judge PIL bench of the High Court at Hyderabad comprising Acting Chief Justice Dilip Bhosale and Justice SV Bhatt made clear that it would not pass any further orders in view of the ‘status quo’ orders already passed by the city civil court regarding the proposed beef festival on OU campus and adjourned the matter to Friday. The bench was dealing with a writ petition filed by K Raju of the university.

The petitioner complained that it was improper to conduct the festival on the campus as it would vitiate the academic atmosphere.

The government pleader informed the bench that the Telangana State government took all necessary steps to implement the order of the city civil court.

No sooner, the Court passed its orders, the campus turned into a fortress with at least 500 policemen surrounding all the entry and exit points of the university. Fearing arrest, students especially residing in Dr Ambekdar hostel confined themselves to their rooms. They even threatened to commit suicide if police tried to arrest them. However, three students -- Solanki Srinivas, Alexander and Sridhar -- were arrested while they were on their way to participate in a debate on HMTV news channel.

According to police sources, they would not allow students to organise any sort of festival on campus and would arrest them as soon as they venture out of the hostels. “We have orders from the court and we will implement,” said ACP Ch Laxminarayana.

OU Registrar Prof E Suresh Kumar reiterated that no festival would be allowed. “The Court has made clear directions not to hold beef festival. If students participate in the festival their admissions will be cancelled as per the university rules. There is no change in the exam schedule on Thursday and all exams will be held as per the schedule,” he said.

Meanwhile, OU administration has issued circular notice to all departments and teachers stating not to indulge in any activity other than academics in the university.

OU Teacher’s Association President Prof. Battu Satyanarayana said only a group of students were instigating and trying to organise such activities on campus.

“Earlier governments did not bother about activities in the university. Now the government is going tough. Already students are busy studying and appearing for the examinations only a group of students are indulging in such activities which will disturb academic atmosphere,” he added.