Osmania University students boycott semester exams over Telangana issue

Demanding that government should bring a bill in the Parliament for creation of Telangana state, a large number of students of Osmania University boycotted their post-graduate semester examinations which began today.

In the morning session, over 82% of the students boycotted the third semester exams conducted for MA, MSc and MCom courses; in the afternoon session only 32% of the students of MCA third-year appeared for their first semester exams. Similarly, post-graduate law exams recorded a 42% attendance, a university official said.

Osmania University Students Joint Action Committee had called for the boycott. Pro-Telangana students took out rallies on varsity campus and at different constituent colleges and affiliated colleges in Hyderabad and other districts.

Some students tore up question papers/answer sheets and hall tickets near the Osmania University Arts college.

"Those who boycotted also stopped other students from writing the exams or entering the exam hall," the official said.

But the exams would continue as per the schedule -despite the protests and the low turn-out - in the larger academic interests, the official said.

The state government had earlier ruled out postponement of semester exams, which will continue till February 7.

Anticipating trouble, Hyderabad police had already clamped prohibitory orders around exams centres in the city banning gathering in large groups.