Kerala High Court Asks Syndicate Member To Show 'Actual Obstruction' In Entering Varsity Campus, Says Can't Order Police Protection Just For Fear

The Kerala High Court today (July 16) orally told PS Gopakumar, a member of the State University Syndicate, to show an actual incident of obstruction faced by him while entering the varsity campus, in wake of the recent Bharat Mata portrait row.Justice N. Nagaresh said the Court cannot entertain the member's plea for Police protection, merely based on fear and apprehensions.“When you say you are obstructed, I want specific date and time on which date you are obstructed. I won't entertain 'like always' and 'consistently'…why do you want a police protection? Many persons have many fears. That doesn't mean that they can come and get police protection,” the judge observed.The bench was seized with Gopakumar's writ petition seeking police protection to enter the varsity campus. His apprehension stemmed from alleged breach of security arrangements made for the Governor ahead of his visit to the varsity to attend a function.The plea states that the protests are politically coloured and certain Syndicate Members belonging to ruling-party CPIM even prevented the former Vice-Chancellor of the University from exercising her duties and obstructed the official Syndicate meeting.Gopakumar claims that politically motivated protests, being carried out both inside and outside the University campus, has seriously jeopardized the safety of records and the administrative functioning of the University. The plea states that Gopakumar's fundamental right under Article 21 has been affected since he cannot do his statutory duty without fear.However, when the matter came up for consideration, the Court asked the Petitioner's counsel to point out a specific instance of threat or physical obstruction faced by him.As the counsel sought to contend that the whole University staff "lives under threat”, the Court orally remarked, “I cannot grant any order on the basis of fear factor, pressured by the staff. Is there any specific instance of physical obstruction is the question.”It eventually directed the counsel to file another affidavit and clarify what was the specific instance in which the petitioner was obstructed or prevented from moving in the campus.The case is posted on July 21 (Monday) for further consideration.Case No: WP(C) No. 26111 of 2025Case Title: P.S. Gopakumar v. State of Kerala and Ors.The petition is moved by Advocates Govind P., G. Sreekumar (Chelur), V.K. Manju.

Kerala High Court Asks Syndicate Member To Show 'Actual Obstruction' In Entering Varsity Campus, Says Can't Order Police Protection Just For Fear

K. Salma Jennath

Tags