HC directs OU authorities to restore water and power connections to the hostels

HYDERABAD: Justice K. Lakshman of the Telangana High Court on Friday directed Osmania University to reconnect water and power supply to its hostels to enable students to prepare for the Group-I preliminary examination scheduled for October 16. If this was not done immediately, the registrar would have to come to court in person, the High Court said.

Justice Lakshman delivered the order on a petition filed by Nerella Mahesh Goud and four students pursuing law at the university and staying at at the E1 Hostel challenging the disconnection of power and water supply.

Gouraram Rajasekhar Reddy, counsel for the petitioners, said that apart from the Group-1 preliminary test on October 16, the semester examinations were due from October 27, 2022. Students preparing for the were facing difficulties due to the disconnection of power and water supply. The majority of the students were from the rural areas and the poorer sections of society and could afford to stay in private hostels or private accommodation, he said.

Counsel said the university had declared Dasara holidays up to October 9 but extended it to October 26. Osmania University's standing counsel submitted that the supply was interrupted due to repair and maintenance work.