In a month from now, students of the University of Hyderabad (UoH) will have to swipe their identity cards to enter their hostels and a little later, CCTV cameras will follow their movements on campus.

Amid uproar by the students and staff, the University management is determined to go ahead with its plan to introduce a slew of surveillance measures.

Ranked number one among the central universities in the country in terms of overall performance, the UoH has taken up the Rs 85 lakh project in order to prevent entry of outsiders into the hostels. It hired the services of Kerala State Electronics Development Corporation Limited for introducing the system.

“This measure is taking the university in the direction of curtailing liberties and creating a fear psychosis,” said UoH Employees’ Joint Action Committee convener Purendra Prasad, who disclosed that the association had adopted a unanimous resolution condemning the “undemocratic and unilateral move’.

Pointing out that the proposal was never discussed in any meetings of the university’s decision-making bodies nor was there any attempt to take the stake-holders into confidence, he said it was being done only to increase supervision over employees and students.

Vice-chancellor Syed E Hasnian announced: “To begin with, the swipe cards will be introduced in the Tagore International Home housing international students. The facility will soon be extended to the new 800-bed hostel for local students”.

Swipe cards will also be installed at the Administrative Building to supervise employees work. There are also plans to install 20 Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras on the campus premises to monitor trespassers' movement.