Human rights body sends notice to HCU

Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh State Human Rights Commission (APSHRC) on Thursday sought a report from Hyderabad Central University Vice Chancellor Appa Rao Podile by March 26 in response to a petition alleging violation of human rights of students on the campus. P L Vishweshwar Rao, spokesperson of Aam Aadmi Party’s Telangana unit, has filed the petition, alleging that HCU authorities closed the hostels and denied food, water, electricity and Internet to the students.
“Notice to the VC, University of Hyderabad for report by March 26,” the APSHRC order said. The HCU authorities have claimed that water supply and Internet facility on the campus were “never” disconnected but there was “temporary” disruption as these were affected by the ongoing protests.
HCU faculty member Bipin Srivastava told PTI that Internet facilities were managed by the non-teaching staff, and as the non-teaching staff went on strike, the Internet services were disrupted for some time. Students messes had been closed due to the strike by non-teaching staff since Tuesday night.
But the authorities said all the messes opened today. Members of HCU non-teaching staff union went on a strike on March 22 protesting the ransacking of Podile’s official residence and an assault on non-teaching staff allegedly by a group of students, who were opposed to Podile resuming his duty in the wake of Rohith Vemula suicide controversy. (PTI)