Kalady University issue: High Court bars suspended SFI students from taking exams

KOCHI: The students under suspension from Kalady University faced a setback in court. The High Court ruled that ten of these students will not be permitted to appear for examinations beginning tomorrow. A Division Bench of the High Court set aside an earlier order by a Single Bench that had granted the students permission to take the exams. The court observed that the Single Bench's order was contrary to the rules. This decision follows an appeal filed by Vice-Chancellor Ciza Thomas against the Single Bench's order.

The court upheld the Vice-Chancellor’s stance that students who participated in the protest lacked the required attendance and, consequently, would not be permitted to sit for examinations. 16 students have remained under suspension for the past 65 days due to their involvement in protests at the university. The verdict was delivered by a division bench comprising Justices Anil K. Narendran and S. Muralikrishna, following an appeal filed by Vice-Chancellor Ciza Thomas.

Meanwhile, the students questioned how they could have the required attendance, given that they have been under suspension for 65 days.

The Syndicate, which met yesterday, decided that the suspension of 12 out of the 16 students at Kalady University could be revoked if they submitted a written apology. SFI activists declared that they would tender an apology. The report submitted to the Syndicate by the inquiry committee states that the protest on August 23 turned violent and that a symbolic funeral procession for the Vice-Chancellor was conducted.