UoH terminates licenses of shops on campus, after raids reveal stale and expired products

The University of Hyderabad (UoH) cracked down on five shops on campus that were allegedly selling products past their expiry date, and have issued termination orders.

This comes less than two weeks after authorities raided shops in the campus and seized stale food, expired and unhygienic products from both South and North campus.

The raids resulted in shocking revelations, as some of the stock from a food centre and bakery had expired way back in 2009 and 2010.

Confirming the order, security in-charge, TV Rao, who headed the raids, told TNM, "As shop owners failed to give a proper response to the show cause notices we issued to them, the university has ordered them to vacate on or before July 4."

"University has every authority to evict the shops, if the shop owners don't cooperate," he added.

When asked about the fresh tenders, Rao refused to comment further, and said, "The university will frame the rules for fresh bids."

A copy of the termination order, which is with TNM, cites the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and Section 7 of the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954.

When contacted, Suman Damera, Students Union General Secretary, said that he welcomed the move, and asked authorities to bar the owners from participating in the fresh bidding.

"They should add one more rule to the conduct code, which allows the university to file criminal cases on these shop vendors," Suman said.

He also added that the university should screen the new participants properly.

Earlier in June, the abysmal standards in the maintenance of outlets had raised serious health concerns. 

Following the raids, all the shops had been shut.