Kerala High Court Initiates Suo Motu Case Over Violence In Hartal Over Nithin Raj Death

The Kerala High Court on Tuesday (28 April) initiated a suo motu case over instances of violence reported during the hartal called over the death of BDS student Nithin Raj.

The statewide hartal was called upon by various Dalit organisations in Kerala, demanding justice in connection with the death of Nithin Raj, a BDS student who died by suicide. The family has alleged that Nithin has faced caste-based discrimination and harassment by the faculty, which has led to his death by suicide.

The Division Bench of Justice Basant Balaji and Justice P. Krishna Kumar issued the order to initiate suo motu case based on reports that over 27 cases have been registered across State in connection with violence during the Statewide hartal.

The bench has sought the response of the DGP.

The High Court had earlier banned hartals, and had ordered that the organisers would be liable for the violence caused during the hartal.