[Veterinary Student Death] Kerala High Court Declines To Grant Stay On Suspension Of Vice-Chancellor

Dr Saseendranath was suspended pending enquiry on grounds of dereliction of duty and lack of sincerity over the suicide of Sidharthan J S, a second-year Bachelor of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry student at the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Pookode in Wayanad district. It is alleged that Sidharthan committed suicide on February 18, 2024, in the hostel room of his college because of ragging and brutal assault from a group of students in the college.

Declining to grant a stay on the suspension order, Justice Mohammed Nias C P held thus:

“Ext.P1 suspension order dated 02/03/2024 has been passed by the Chancellor under Section 9(9) of the Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University Act, 2010, in anticipation of an enquiry against the Vice Chancellor. On going through the writ petition, the facts and circumstances leading to the order of suspension, I am not inclined to grant a stay of the operation of the order of suspension. The contentions of the petitioner questioning the jurisdiction of the Chancellor to pass the impugned order will be considered after the pleadings are complete.”

On an enquiry by the Anti-ragging committee, many students were also expelled and suspended from the college based on the UGC Regulations on Curbing the Menace of Ragging in Higher Educational Institutions, 2009.

The plea submitted by Dr Saseendranath stated that he was not aware of ragging in the college until the unfortunate death of Sidharthan. He submitted that there was no dereliction of duty or indifference from his side and that he has taken prompt action against students whenever he was informed of undesirable conduct of students.

He denied the allegations that he was not attentive towards the affairs of the University with desired sincerity, gravity and promptness. Further, Dr Saseendranath also states that the suspension order's allegations of negligence, indifference and callous attitude were baseless.

It was also stated that the Vice-Chancellor was not an authority of the university and could not be placed under suspension by the Chancellor. It was argued that the Chancellor does not have the requisite jurisdiction to order suspension of the Vice-Chancellor.

The matter has been posted for hearing today.

Case title: Dr. M. R. Saseendranath V State of Kerala

Case number: WP(C) 9022/ 2024

Click Here To Read/Download The Interim Order