Court halts re-admission of students accused in Siddharth's death

KOCHI: The division bench has stayed the High Court single bench order that allowed the students accused in the case connected to the death of J.S. Siddharth of Pookode Veterinary University to continue their studies at another campus.

The single bench had previously directed to shift the students to Mannuthi campus and grant them admission with conditions. Siddharth's mother M.R. Sheeba appealed against this. Following this, a division bench comprising Justice Amit Rawal and Justice K.V. Jayakumar passed an interim order. The division bench has directed to complete the investigation by the anti-ragging squad of the university as recommended by the single bench. The bench also directed the squad to consider the points raised by Siddharth's mother.

The single bench had earlier quashed the expulsion of the 17 accused students from the college and their debarment from joining other colleges for three years. Sheeba's appeal states that the accused did not demand that they be allowed to continue their studies at the Mannuthi campus and that the single bench was wrong to pass such an order. Although the preliminary report of the anti-ragging committee states that Siddharth was a victim of assault, the court did not consider it. The appeal seeks to quash the single bench order. Detailed arguments on the matter will be heard later.