The Kerala High Court imposed restriction on the programmes held in college campuses. Disposing a writ petition, the Court upheld total restriction on the all types of programmes inside the campus by any agency like DJ and musical events after 9 pm. The Court also validated the decision of the state government to restrict the entry of vehicles of the college students farther than parking area. The petition was initiated by few students of College of Engineering at Thiruvananthapuram. Justice Chitambaresh declined to nullify the disciplinary action imposed on the students who were guilty of causing death of a student in that college on the day of celebrations connected with Onam.
The college ousted 26 students who are the petitioners for the alleged misbehavior on 19th August this year. In the evening, the students of that college hostel for men carried out a procession in two jeeps and open lorry with some students inside who were dancing and singing with some musical instruments. When the jeep entered the campus, a girl who was a third year student of the college was hit down. Though she was taken to hospital immediately, her life could not be saved. The internal inquiry committee of the college came to the conclusion that the student petitioners were responsible for such an incident in the college and they were suspended and one student who was driving the jeep was dismissed.
The petitioners contended that they were celebrating onam with the permission of the principal and they were not involved in other matters in connection with the issue. They further argued that they were denied the right to cross examine the witness and the authorities did not provide them the copies of enquiry report. The Court insisted that the students could proceed the matter to the Board of Adjudication of Student’s Grievances. It an adjudicatory body established according to Chapter 36 of Kerala University First Statutes, 1977 to hear the grievances of students. The University can either follow or vary the orders of the college after getting the report form the Board. The Court held that the colleges and hostels cannot be a scene to show the acrobatics of the students and such incidents will not be entertained.
Adv. Jewel Panicker