The University of Hyderabad has agreed that a few students were detained by the police after a melee over the screening of a film on the campus, but the University immediately informed the police that they would not press charges against the students and they were let off.
In a statement here, the university administration said that it had no objection to the screening of the film but different departments refused permission citing the norm that varsity spaces cannot be given for events by student organisations. Only when students started arguing and heckling, the security personnel fearing escalation of violence informed the police.
The statement further added that the varsity was aware that the film scheduled to be screened was a national award-winning documentary by an acclaimed film maker and it was also telecast on Doordarshan. In fact, it was screened several times in the past on the campus both as public screenings as well as in classrooms for academic discussions. Even the filmmaker also visited the campus and interacted with students during screenings.
The statement also said that it doesn’t give the University administration any joy to see the students being detained by the police, even if temporarily. There are robust internal mechanisms, including negotiations and dialogues initiated by the DSW’s (Dean, Student Welfare) Office and campus security to deal with minor scuffles and protests by students.
There is no need for student organisations to mislead or use subterfuge to hold events to gain transitory political gains in a competitive environment, the statement said adding that the University is currently in the process of sharing with all sections concerned, including heads and deans as well as student organisations, the norms to be followed for organising events on campus.
