Kerala High Court Closes Plea Challenging Naming Of Youth Festival As 'Intifada' Upon Being Told Name Has Been Changed

The Kerala High Court has closed a plea challenging the naming of a youth college festival to be held in the State as 'Intifiada.'

The plea challenging the naming of the youth festival has been closed in light of the direction of the Vice Chancellor to remove the word 'Intifada' from all banners, posters etc.

“In light of the above note, the prayers in the writ petition are infructuous” said Justice PV Kunhikrishnan.

The petitioner, a first-year student at the NSS College, Nilamel had submitted that naming the youth festival 'Intifada', an Arabic word which translates to 'shake off' cannot be used as it has been “historically linked with the militant/ terror groups like the Hamas of Palestine”.

The petitioner pointed out that the logo depicts the scarf of Palestine on the map of Israel.

The plea had added that the logo does not suit an art and cultural festival and would instead “result in creation of division in the student fraternity” and runs counter to the spirit of Article 51 of the Constitution of India which directs the state to endeavor to promote the international peace and maintain just and honorable relations between nations.

Counsel for Petitioner: Advocates S Vinod Bhat, Anagha Lakshmy Raman, V Namitha and Greeshma Chandrika R

Counsel for Respondents: Advocates Thomas Abraham (Standing Counsel, Kerala University), S Prasanth, S Gopakumaran Nair, P Sreekumar and MN Manmadan

Citation: 2024 LiveLaw (Ker) 161

Case Title: Ashish AS v. Union of India and ors.

Case Number: WP(C) 8526 of 2023

Click here to read/download the order