Kerala High Court Stays MG University VC's Order Seeking Refund of Conference Funds

Kochi: The Kerala High Court has stayed an order issued by the Vice-Chancellor of Mahatma Gandhi University directing the University Union to refund ₹2.81 lakh sanctioned for organising a national conference.

The Vice-Chancellor had ordered the immediate recovery of the funds after a promotional poster for the conference featured the image of a cockroach, which the university cited as the reason for initiating action.

The University Union challenged the order before the High Court, arguing that the poster did not promote the ideology or message of any political party. Instead, it maintained that the visuals used, including the image of the cockroach and references to the Delhi protest, were artistic representations of contemporary social issues.

Earlier, the university had warned the Union that the sanctioned funds would be withdrawn unless all campaign materials, including flex boards, banners and posters displayed on the campus, were removed immediately.

The controversy escalated after the ABVP lodged a complaint against the poster with the Vice-Chancellor. Subsequently, the university issued a circular stating that programmes conducted using university funds should not contain political content. The circular drew criticism from sections of the academic community.

After hearing the petition, the High Court stayed the Vice-Chancellor's order directing the refund of the grant and issued notices to both the Vice-Chancellor and Mahatma Gandhi University, seeking their response in the matter.