The University of Hyderabad has prohibited outside processed and cooked food on campus. This was done in a bid "To ensure the security on the University campus and to safeguard the interests of the licenses of the food courts/ canteens/ bakeries situated in the campus".
The Registrar’s office issued the order on Thursday.
The order states, "It has been decided to not to allow entry of outside vendors coming with cooked and processed food.”
The University campus has more than 5000 boarders comprising integrated studies to doctoral courses.
Many students order food from fast food outlets and local restaurants
While the university authorities say it will come into force immediately, students are opposing the move saying it amounts to overpowering their choices.
Arif Ahammed, Students Union General Secretary told TNM "The order itself is ridiculous and illogical as it claims to have come in order to protect the interests of the eateries. Who will protect the interests of the students? They don't monitor the substandard food in the canteens and eateries on campus and force the students who want to exercise their choice."
He added, "We are not going to accept it at all, we have represented it to the registrar, who told us that he will consider the representation by taking it to the administration’s notice."
Ravi Teja, PhD Scholar, who took the matter on social media says, "It's unfair on the university’s part to curb student choice. Due to the low quality and unhygienic food served in hostels and in eateries on campus, students have for a while now been getting food delivered through online portals.”
He also pointed out, "It seems they (inside eateries) were being challenged by external outlets, so administration wanted to protect their so-called interests".
Speaking to TNM TV Rao Security Officer said, "Since we have received the order, we have to stop the entry of food"
In June, University of Hyderabad officials had crackdown on several eateries and shops for maintaining sub-standard food along with selling expired items.