'No Impediment Now': Kerala High Court Records Approval For Cabinet Meeting To Finalise Draft Ragging Bill Amid Model Code Of Conduct

The Kerala High Court on Friday (April 10) remarked that there was no impediment to approve the draft Kerala Prohibition of Ragging (Amendment) Bill, 2025 after being informed that the Chief Electoral Officer has given the green signal for a Cabinet meeting amid the enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct.

While considering a public interest litigation moved by KeLSA (Kerala State Legal Services Authority), seeking stronger laws to combat the menace of ragging within educational institutions, the Division Bench of Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice C. Jayachandran orally remarked:

"Now you convene a meeting and finish off the matter."

Two weeks back when the matter had come up, the Court was informed that the Bill has to be approved by the Cabinet, which cannot meet now since the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) is presently in force in the State. It had then questioned why the Bill was not tabled before the MCC came into force.

When the matter came up today, the Chief Electoral Officer's communication dated April 9, 2026 giving approval for a Cabinet meeting to finalise the Bill was placed on record.

Recording the Election Commission's standing counsel submission that clearance has been granted, the Court added to its order:

"In view of the aforesaid clearance, there is no impediment now for the Cabinet to meet and finalise the draft Kerala Prohibition of Ragging (Amendment) Bill, 2025. The matter shall be listed one week after summer vacation."

Case Title: Kerala State Legal Service Authority v. Government of Kerala and Others

Case No: WP(C) No. 8600 of 2025