From The Indian Express · Shaju Philip · · 2m
Kerala court bars protest tactics in universities
A division bench of Kerala High Court says dharna and hunger strikes have no place in academic institutions, overturning an order that let suspended students sit exams.
In brief
A division bench of Kerala High Court says dharna and hunger strikes have no place in academic institutions, overturning an order that let suspended students sit exams. Kerala High Court overturned a lower court order allowing suspended students to sit exams, ruling that political protest tactics have no place in…
Court overturns exam permission
A division bench of Kerala High Court set aside a single-bench order allowing suspended students of Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit in Ernakulam district to write semester exams.
Why students were suspended
Sixteen students from the CPI(M) student wing SFI were suspended following a protest and street play in August that allegedly insulted Vice Chancellor Ciza Thomas.
Students sought exam access
The suspended students, who did not meet mandatory attendance requirements, moved the single bench seeking permission to attend the semester exam.
Single bench allowed exams
The single bench allowed the sixteen suspended students to pay fees and appear for examinations, stating such permission would not confer any right and remained subject to the writ petition's outcome.
University appealed the order
The university appealed against the single-bench directive on October thirty, arguing the decision was improper.
Court's key ruling on protest
Justices Anil K Narendran and S Muralee Krishan said political activities like dharna, hunger strikes and Sathyagrah have no place in constitutional democracy or academic institutions.
“political activities like dharna, hunger strikes and other practices like Sathyagrah have no place in a constitutional democracy, much less in academic institutions”
Court rejects lower bench reasoning
The division bench found the single bench erred by lacking evidence the students met eligibility requirements and by ignoring Supreme Court directives that courts cannot grant relief contrary to regulations.
Education not politics, court says
The court held that educational institutions are meant for imparting education, not politics, and that political parties cannot hold universities to ransom through their ambitions.
“Educational institutions are meant for imparting education and not politics”
Discipline upheld over exemptions
The court emphasised academic discipline must be maintained and consequences of suspension, including exam ineligibility, must be upheld according to institutional rules.
The main idea
Kerala High Court overturned a lower court order allowing suspended students to sit exams, ruling that political protest tactics have no place in universities.
