The Telangana government issued a notice last month to Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU) concerning 50 acres of unutilized land. The notice, from the Ranga Reddy district administration, seeks clarification on the land’s non-use since its allotment in 1998 . MANUU has requested two months to respond to the notice.
This action has drawn criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), and university students. Telangana Tourism Minister Jupally Krishna Rao stated the notice is routine and does not signify a government takeover of the land. He affirmed the government’s intention is for the land to benefit students.
Government Clarifies Land Notice
Minister Jupally Krishna Rao clarified that the government’s objective is for institutions to utilize allotted land for its intended purpose. He stated the land should serve students’ betterment, not remain idle. Rao described the notice as a “reminder” for the university to use the land, dismissing opposition claims of a government land grab.
He questioned the previous BRS government’s land allotment permissions issued before the 2023 Assembly elections , citing alleged financial motivation. The minister confirmed the government agreed to grant the university approximately two months to provide a land utilization plan.
Political Leaders Respond
Union Minister of State for Home, Bandi Sanjay Kumar of the BJP, condemned the state government’s notice. He labeled it “shameful” that the government is allegedly targeting educational institution lands. Kumar questioned if the state seeks to profit by selling university land, which he estimated to be worth “thousands of crores of rupees.” He demanded the notice’s withdrawal and threatened student-led agitation.
BRS leader K.T. Rama Rao accused the current Congress government of attempting to “snatch” the 50 acres designated for academic use. Rama Rao referred to a previous incident at the University of Hyderabad, where he claimed the government tried to take over land. He alleged these actions “sabotage the aspirations of thousands of students.”
Students Collective Expresses Alarm
The MANUU Students Collective expressed deep alarm over the government’s notice. They announced plans for protests, interpreting the move as part of a “disturbing pattern of state-led land appropriation.” The collective asserted that university land belongs to students, teachers, and future generations, not subject to state “whims.”
The students argued that allegations of “non-utilisation” overlook structural delays. These delays often result from bureaucratic approvals, funding mechanisms, and central agencies like the CPWD. The collective’s statement questioned the government’s true intentions regarding public educational institutions.
MANUU is now under pressure to present a comprehensive plan for the 50 acres. The government awaits the university’s response within the stipulated timeframe. Further political and student actions remain possible, contingent on the university’s submitted plan and the government’s subsequent decision.