AGITATED LOT: Members of the University of Hyderabad Teachers Association staging a dharna in front of the university administrative building in Hyderabad on Tuesday. — PHOTO: K. RAMESH BABU

HYDERABAD: The University of Hyderabad (UoH) has decided to refer its `controversial' decision to alienate a part of University's land to Care Foundation to a third party for an impartial report given the strong opposition from various sections of the university.

Controversy arose after the university entered into an agreement with the Care Foundation for setting up National Centre for Health Science Education & Translation Research Centre (NIHETR) on 200 acres of university land.

Committee `members'

According to sources, the three-member committee to be formed includes professors from law, science and medical professions. The names of NALSAR Director Prof. Ranbir Singh, former Director of Indian Institute of Sciences, Bangalore, Prof. Padmanabha, and former Director of NIMS Kakarla Subba Rao have been suggested. "We will seek their acceptance and hope they would respond positively," an official said.

The Executive Council meeting held on Tuesday approved the proposal.

The Committee would meet all the stakeholders, the associations leading the protests and also individuals. "We will respect the decision of the committee irrespective of what it suggests - scrapping, revising or keeping the MoU in tact," Vice-Chancellor Seyed E. Hasnain told The Hindu . "A section of our people have some reservations on the issue and it is an effort to address them," he said.

The EC meeting was held away from the university, sensing the mood of teachers and employees who had warned of protests on the issue.

V-C criticised

Representatives of the University of Hyderabad Teachers Association (UHTA), students and non-teaching employees who staged protest at the Administrative building criticised the Vice-Chancellor for shifting the venue of EC meeting. "Perhaps, this is the first time that the EC meeting is being held outside the university and it reflects the functioning," quipped a professor.

However, the Vice-Chancellor defended the decision saying that if people are bent upon disturbing the meeting there was no other way left. "The university has to function," he said.

`Norms ignored'

Meanwhile, the faculty continued its outburst against the VC on the issue raising questions over Care Foundation's investments, its contribution to the society and research apart from its credibility. Teachers said that all the norms were given a go by and all statutory bodies were ignored before taking such an important decision. They said the minutes were not presented to the MoU committee as it was in favour of Care Foundation.

UHTA president Prof. Siva Kumar said that teachers were not against the private-public partnership but the University should benefit from it, instead of a private party. Moreover, the deal is not transparent, he alleged.

S. Sudershan Rao, president of the Non-teaching Employees Association too concurred with his views. The agitating employees made it clear that they would continue their struggle.

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