Row over cockroach-themed posters: Kerala High Court stays MG University VC's order to refund conference grant

The Kerala High Court has stayed the MG University Vice Chancellor's order directing the university students' union to refund ₹2.81 lakh released for organising a National Conference, after the university objected to 'cockroach-themed' publicity posters for the event [Mahatma Gandhi University Students Union v Mahatma Gandhi University & ors].

The university had objected to the posters on allegations that they carried political overtones.

The students' union eventually moved the High Court challenging the Vice-Chancellor's August 1 directive to refund the money given for the conduct of the conference, which concluded yesterday.

Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas today stayed the Vice-Chancellor's order, after opining that it appeared to be arbitrary.

The Court has also sought a response in the matter from the University, its Vice-Chancellor, Registrar and the Director of the University's Directorate of Students Welfare (DSW).

The case will be heard next on October 9, 2026.

The dispute arose over cockroach-themed publicity posters released by the students' union for a four-day national conference titled 'Discourses beyond boundaries: Sustainable future in an age of conflict,' held on the university campus from August 3 to August 6.

The University had earlier granted administrative sanction of ₹3.75 lakh for the conference and released ₹2.81 lakh, representing 75 per cent of the sanctioned amount as an advance. The remaining amount was to be released after submission of bills and vouchers.

However, the director of the DSW later issued a notice alleging that the conference's posters carried political overtones and went against a prohibition on the conduct of political activities and programmes using university funds.

The notice said that the cockroach-themed posters violated the Mahatma Gandhi University Students' Code of Conduct Rules, 2005, while directing that they be removed.

The university alleged that the conference campaign, which featured the virtual mascot of the collective, 'Cockroach Janta Party,' carried political overtones.

However, the students' union maintain that the cockroach posters only portrayed a symbol of resistance.

"The issue which leads to the issuance of exhibit P2 (university notice) centres around 2 posters which, one among them depicts a cockroach standing defiantly before a boot, and another depicting a cockroach appearing to push against or hold back a large curtain. The posters/art work symbolically illustrate it as an image/symbol of resistance," the petition stated.

The union added that the posters did not display the name, symbol, flag, slogan or campaign material of any recognised political party and, therefore, did not violate the university's code of conduct.

Despite this explanation, the VC withdrew the financial assistance sanctioned for the conference and directed the students' union to refund ₹2.81 lakh advance that had already been released.

The conference was allowed to proceed without university funding.

The students' union and its General Secretary eventually moved a plea before the High Court, challenging the VC's order for a refund of the advance amount.

They have contended that neither the Mahatma Gandhi University Act nor the Students' Code of Conduct Rules empowered the VC to recover an advance already sanctioned or released for an approved university programme.

The plea added that the August 1 order by the VC was arbitrary, violative of the principles of natural justice and violated the student union's right to freedom of speech and expression under Article 19(1)(a) of the Indian Constitution.

Advocates KS Arunkumar, Amrutha KP, Vijay Sankar VH, Jasal MJ, MN Maya, Jerin Joseph, Deepa Varma K and Ahsan Najeeb appeared for the petitioners.