Kerala High Court orders universities to frame rules to regulate campus politics

The Kerala High Court recently directed universities in the State to frame concrete rules and mechanisms to regulate the political activities of students on campus [Ajoy LS v The State of Kerala & ors and connected cases].

A Division Bench of Chief Justice Somen Sen and Justice Syam Kumar VM observed that universities and affiliated colleges have a responsibility to prevent political conflicts at educational institutions and to ensure discipline within campus.

"We direct the Syndicate of all the Universities, who are parties in the public interest litigation, to formulate a mechanism to regulate the political activities of the students in the campus and to ensure that discipline is maintained in the campus," the Court ordered.

The universities, which are party to the case, include Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala University and Calicut University.

The Court was hearing petitions raising concerns about incidents of campus violence in colleges in the State.

One of the petitioners, Ajoy LS, sought directions to the State authorities and educational institutions to take effective steps to ensure campus violence incidents do not recur in any campus.

The plea specifically referred to the 2018 incident at Maharaja's College, Ernakulam, where political clashes on the campus led to the death of a student.

In its latest order, the Court recounted that it had earlier underscored the need for universities to formulate long-term regulatory measures to address political conflicts between students, and to ensure that no untoward incident occurs within campus.

The Court noted that the Mahatma Gandhi University had already framed the Mahatma Gandhi University Students Code of Conduct Rules, 2005, to maintain and encourage good conduct within classrooms and campus, teaching departments.

It proceeded to direct all other universities to treat these 2005 Rules as model rules to frame appropriate regulations on similar lines.

The Bench added that the universities must place their draft rules before the Court on or before the next date of hearing.

It further directed that the draft rules should also be shared with the Additional Advocate General (AAG) representing State authorities, who is to review them and suggest if any changes are required to ensure that educational campuses remain free from political influence.

The case will be heard next on March 4.

Advocate Sajeev Kumar K Gopal appeared for Ajoy LS.

Additional Advocate General Asok M Cherian and government pleader TS Shyam Prasanth appeared for the State authorities.

Advocate Thomas Abraham represented the Kerala University.

[Read Order]