JNTU-Hyderabad detains several B.Pharm fourth-year students; protest over exam branch guidelines
HYDERABAD: Several fourth-year Bachelor of Pharmacy students in colleges affiliated with Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University Hyderabad (JNTUH) have protested their detention. Students say the university used new guidelines issued by the examination branch that contradict earlier promotion relaxations.
Students question authority behind new guidelines
Students said the detention followed guidelines circulated by the examination branch. They argued that the Directorate of Academic Planning (DAP) normally prepares academic regulations.
According to students, the university promoted them from second year to third year under proceedings issued in December 2023. The order relaxed promotion rules for programmes including B.Pharm under the R22 regulations.
The registrar issued the order after the proposal went through the Directorate of Academic Planning.
Earlier proceedings allowed relaxed promotion rules
Students cited JNTUH Proceedings No. A1/16/2023 dated December 15, 2023. The university issued the order after discussions in the academic senate.
The proceedings relaxed credit-based promotion rules for R22 regulations, including B.Pharm.
Students also said later proceedings allowed them to move to the next academic year with a limited number of backlog subjects under specific conditions.
New proceedings triggered detentions
However, several colleges recently informed students about their detention. Colleges cited Proceedings No. JNTUH EB/B.Pharm R22 Relaxation of Promotion Rules/2025 dated December 5, 2025.
These proceedings revised the promotion criteria for B.Pharm students under the R22 regulations. The rules allow students to move between academic years with a maximum of six backlog subjects.
Students say decision came after classes and exams
Student representatives said the decision has affected hundreds of B.Pharm students in JNTUH-affiliated colleges. Many had already attended fourth-year classes and written the fourth-year first semester exams.
“We were promoted under the December 2023 proceedings. Based on that, we attended fourth-year classes and wrote exams. Now some students are suddenly being marked as detained,” a student said.
Another student said the issue also involves the authority that issued the guidelines.
“Academic regulations should normally come from the Director of Academic Planning. But these proceedings came from the examination branch,” the student said.
Protest at JNTUH administrative building
Students staged a protest outside the JNTUH administrative building. They demanded promotion for all eligible B.Pharm fourth-year students based on the earlier proceedings.
After the protest, university officials said they would hold a meeting with principals of affiliated colleges to discuss the issue.
Students said officials assured them that the university would review the matter and may modify the regulations after consultations.
