Shimla: Hon’ble High Court has issued a stay order* on the decision of the state government to transfer 112 hectares of land of Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Himachal Pradesh Agricultural University, Palampur for tourism village. With this decision, all the students, teachers and employees of the university are hopeful that soon the acquisition of this land will be permanently canceled.
Students’ struggle
For many months, the students, teachers and employees of the Agricultural University were together opposing this land transfer. They argued that this land is extremely important for agricultural research, educational activities and experimental work of students. The transfer of land will have a direct impact on these activities and it will have a far-reaching effect on the agricultural sector of Himachal Pradesh.
Reaction of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP)
ABVP Agricultural University Unit President Abhay Verma welcomed the decision and said, “This decision is an important step in the interest of the university. All students, teachers and staff hope that the government will now decide to preserve this land for education and research.
” He further said, ” due to the policies of the government, the students were forced to compromise their academic activities and take to the streets and protest again and again, due to which our studies and research work were getting affected, in view of which a petition was filed in the Hon’ble High Court of Himachal Pradesh, and now stay orders have been implemented in this land transfer, which all the students welcomed this decision of Honble high court.”
Support of Teachers’ Union
Himachal Pradesh Agricultural University Teachers’ Union President Dr. Janardan Singh said, “This decision is a victory of justice and education. The land should be used for the research work of the university and education of students, and not for tourism. We hope that the government will now reconsider this decision and give priority to the development of the university.”
Reaction of Non-Teachers Union
Himachal Pradesh Agricultural University Non-Teachers Union also expressed happiness over this decision. They said, “This is a victory for all the employees and students of the university. We were opposing this land transfer for a long time as it would have affected the normal functioning and research activities of the university. Now we hope that the government will permanently withdraw this decision.”
The hopes of students, teachers and employees have now increased further after the stay order of the court. Everyone is confident that in the final decision of the court, the land of the university will be kept safe for education and research so that the university and the agricultural sector of the state can prosper in the coming years.
