Setback for Kerala University Interim VC; Kerala High Court Allows Students’ Union to Function Till End of Tenure

Thiruvananthapuram: In a significant setback to Kerala University’s interim Vice-Chancellor Mohanan Kunnummal, the Kerala High Court has ruled that the University Students’ Union can continue functioning until the completion of its term. The court also permitted the conduct of programs, including the youth festival, that had been sanctioned by the university.

The High Court stayed the interim Vice-Chancellor’s decision to idismiss the student union and freeze its activities before the expiry of its tenure. The order was issued in response to a petition filed by the SFI-led student union challenging the VC’s action.

The move to dissolve the union came shortly after the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) organized a protest against what it described as anti-student measures taken by Mohanan Kunnummal. The union’s term is scheduled to end on the 28th of this month. Prior to its dismissal, the union had planned several events, including a drama festival, a film festival, and a student conclave. There were concerns that these programs would be cancelled following the decision to dissolve the body.

Recently, students led by the SFI staged a protest demanding the immediate conduct of the Kerala University Union Youth Festival and the disbursal of travel allowance (TA) to participants of the inter-university sports festival.