Order denying exam permission: 10 suspended Kalady University students to move Supreme Court

KOCHI: Students suspended from Kalady University over their participation in a protest are planning to move the Supreme Court against the High Court order barring them from appearing for their examinations. The High Court had ruled that 10 students suspended following the protest would not be allowed to write the examinations scheduled to begin tomorrow. The students decided to approach the Supreme Court following the ruling.

The SFI state leadership said it would intensify its legal battle to protect the students' rights. The students said the High Court Division Bench's order was against their interests and expressed hope that they would get justice from the Supreme Court. They plan to file a petition before the apex court in the coming days.

Earlier today, the High Court Division Bench set aside a single-judge order that had permitted the students to appear for the examinations. The court observed that the single-judge order was contrary to the rules. The decision came on an appeal filed by Vice-Chancellor Ciza Thomas challenging the earlier order. The Division Bench upheld the Vice-Chancellor's position that the students who participated in the protest did not have the required attendance and that those falling short of the attendance requirement could not be permitted to write the examinations.

A total of 16 students have been under suspension for the past 65 days over their participation in a protest at the university. The Division Bench comprising Justices Anil K. Narendran and S. Muralikrishna delivered the verdict on the Vice-Chancellor's appeal. Reacting to the ruling, the students questioned how they could have the required attendance when they had been under suspension for 65 days.

At a Syndicate meeting held yesterday, the university decided that the suspension of 12 of the 16 students could be revoked if they submitted written apologies. However, SFI activists maintained that they would neither submit written apologies nor surrender to the university's decision.

According to the report submitted by the inquiry committee to the Syndicate, the protest held on August 23 had turned violent, and the students had conducted a symbolic funeral procession for the Vice-Chancellor.