Hyderabad Teachers Meet Denied Permission, College Holidays To Be Extended
The Hyderabad City Police have reportedly denied permission to the Telangana Federation of Private Higher Educational Institutions (FATHI) to hold a public meeting at LB Stadium on November 8. The meeting was planned to demand approval of the pending bill related to fee reimbursement and other financial issues affecting private colleges in the state.
The federation had earlier submitted a request to the Hyderabad Police Commissioner’s office seeking approval for the meeting. However, the request was rejected on Thursday. Police officials informed the organisers that no public gatherings would be permitted near the Assembly premises.
Following the denial, the federation sought alternative venues such as Secunderabad, Uppal, and Saroornagar stadiums, but police reportedly turned down those requests as well.
Teachers’ body moves High Court
After the police refusal, federation leaders approached the Telangana High Court on Thursday, challenging the denial of permission. They stated that a final decision on the meeting venue would depend on the court’s verdict expected on Friday.
If permission for any of the proposed venues is not granted, the organisers are considering shifting the meeting to the Aurora Engineering College campus in Bandlaguda.
Meanwhile, a major student rally that was earlier scheduled for November 11 in Hyderabad has now been postponed to November 15.
Fee reimbursement crisis and arrears
The Telangana Federation of Private Higher Educational Institutions and the Federation of Associations of Telangana Higher Institutions (FATHI) have been protesting against the delay in the release of nearly ₹10,000 crore owed by the state government towards student fee reimbursement.
They allege that the delay, coupled with government vigilance raids and administrative obstacles, has pushed many educational institutions into financial distress. The proposed public meeting was intended to draw attention to these issues and urge the government to take immediate action.
Statewide College Holidays Continue
The statewide shutdown of private colleges entered its fourth consecutive day on Thursday, November 6. The strike has disrupted academic schedules across Telangana, including ongoing university examinations.
Under the jurisdiction of JNTU-Hyderabad, only eight colleges were able to conduct B.Pharmacy first-year first and second semester exams. Out of 7,848 students registered for the second-semester exams held in the morning, only 916 appeared — a turnout of just 11.67%.
In the afternoon, for the first-semester supplementary exams, only 154 out of 2,066 registered students (7.45%) attended. Federation leaders claimed the bandh was “highly successful”, stating that nearly 2,000 colleges across Telangana remained closed in protest.
