“Control students organization in Law Colleges”: Kerala High Court directs Government

Hearing a petition filed by a second semester B.A.LL.B (Hon) student N.Prakashan, a Division Bench of Kerala High Court directed the state government that the functioning of the college should not get affected by the demonstration of the student organizations in the college.

The bench headed by Chief Justice Manjula Chellur and Justice A.M. Shaffique observed that if the government fails to control the illegal activities of students’ organization then they should take relevant steps to halt such illegal activities. The petition was filed against the illegal activities carried by the student’s organization in Ernakulam Government Law College Campus. Disposing of a writ petition against frequent strikes in the college and frequent disruption of classes,the bench directed the state government to ensure that the functioning of college should not get affected by such demonstrations.

The bench observed that, “that any obstruction to the right to education was a clear violation of one’s fundamental right. Demonstrating political student unions would have to take into consideration the plight of other students studying in the same college.”It was further added that, “such sort of hooliganism and vandalism are prevented”. “Every citizen has the right to demonstrate or to conduct dharna, but it should be in a peaceful manner. It should not be inside the office room of an officer or around the table of the principal of a college. It should be conducted outside the premises of the officer or principal,” ruled the bench.

Regarding the protests and demonstrations conducted by the various student organizations, the bench observed that, “It was high time the student unions behaved in a more civilized manner while nurturing their political ideologies and activities. The student organizations should show a better degree of responsibility, care and circumspection in their approach.”