The Kerala High Court on Wednesday (11 November) questioned the Sree Sankaracharya University Kalady on their demand for apology by the students suspended in connected with an incident involving alleged violence during protest in campus.

Justice P.V. Kunhikrishnan was considering the plea moved by 16 students suspended from the University, pending enquiry into an incident involving a student protest on the campus.

"For 60 days, they have been suspended and now you want them to apologise.." the Court orally said.

The Court further added:

"I am not accepting what they have done, but they have suffered.. they have been out for 60 days...Assume for argument that there is misconduct.. Isn't this 60 day days enough... I am not justifying what they did but 60 days are over.."

The Court added that the ultimate suffering is for the students involved since they have also been prevented from writing their exams.

"The ultimate suffering is for the students...you use your good office, otherwise we will hear the matter day after tomorrow." Court said.

The matter is now posted on Friday for consideration.

Background

The petitioners who are pursuing MSW, MFA, MA and Four year Undergraduate Programme (FYUGP) and PhD courses who were suspended by the University on September 1, 2026 pending enquiry into incidents involving a student protest on the campus on August 13.

It is alleged that the students staged a mock cremation of the Vice-Chancellor. It is further alleged that the Vice-Chancellor was physically manhandled and that attempts were made to damage her vehicle when she left the office after the meeting.

The students contended that they were holding mock funeral of the stage lights which were not functioning

The present writ petition is filed by the students, aggrieved by the the prolonged suspension and their consequent exclusion from the campus without concluding the disciplinary proceedings.

An interlocutory application was filed during the pendency of the writ, seeking permission to participate in the examination scheduled to commence on November 4, 2026. This application was allowed by the Single Judge by an order dated 30 October, 2026 and this was later challenged before the Division Bench of the Court.

The Division Bench of the High Court set aside the interim relief and held that there was a "total lack of pleadings" regarding the students' entitlement to appear for the examinations in terms of the applicable regulations on minimum attendance and internal assessment.

The students have subsequently approached the Supreme Court challenging the Division Bench judgment and have sought an interim direction to restore the order passed by the Single Judge on October 30, which had permitted them to writ the examinations subject to the final outcome of their pending writ petition challenging the suspension.

The Supreme Court Court refused to interfere with the order of the Division Bench of the High Court. However, the Supreme Court urged the Single Bench of the High Court to expeditiously decide the student' writ petition challenging the suspension. The University undertook that, if the suspension of the students are canceled by the High Court, a special exam will be held for them.