Students threaten to shut Manuu gates

Students Union and Staff Associations of Maulana Azad National Urdu University (Manuu) have threatened to close the main gate of the University in case the varsity was handed over to the District Administration for developing it as a quarantine building for international travelers from Covid-19.

The Serilingampally tahsildar has been authorised to take possession of the university and hand it over to director of the medical education department for developing is as quarantine building under Section 30 of the Disaster Management Act.

Students and representatives of employees’ associations gathered at the administration block and staged dharna against the move and threatened to close down the main gate in case any building was handed over for the purpose.

Around 300 students stay in the hostels within the campus while more than 2,000 staff members and their families stay in the staff quarters. The district authorities want to take over four boys’ hostels.

Manuu Students Union president Mohammed Umar Farooq Quadri asked the university authorities to get prior approval of the University Grants Commission (UGC) before taking any decision.

He wanted how they could stay in a building which will be adjacent to those buildings where suspected travellers will quarantine. More than 1,200 students are on vacation, leaving their belongings in their respective rooms.

“Who is responsible for their belongings and how can the state administration convert hostels into quarantine buildings of a university without vacating the residents of the quarters and hostellers,” he wanted to know. Mr Farooq said that government officials have threatened to arrest them in case they create hurdles.

Representatives of various teaching and non-teaching staff associations also opposed the idea of a quarantine building inside the campus.

STUDENTS AND representatives of employees’ associations gathered at the administration block and staged dharna against the move and threatened to close down the main gate in case any building was handed over for the purpose