There is no place for dharna-hunger strike in a democracy, says Kerala HC Agitating students can be expelled from the institution

The Kerala High Court has said that activities like dharnas, hunger strikes and satyagraha have no place in constitutional democracy. The court said that educational institutions are for studies and not for politics. Students involved in such activities can be expelled from the institution. The court made these remarks in the case of 16 suspended students of Sri Shankaracharya Sanskrit University in Kaldi. A division bench of the high court quashed the interim order of a single judge allowing students to sit for the semester exams starting November 4. After not getting relief from the high court, now 16 students have approached the Supreme Court. These students, who are affiliated to the Students Federation of India (SFI), have demanded that they be allowed to sit for the exam. They say that this could ruin their entire semester. Students affiliated to SFI staged a protest during the syndicate meeting on August 13 at the university. They were agitating over 18 demands, including lack of basic amenities on the campus, water problem and filling up of vacant posts of teachers. During the protest, the students staged a street play. It showed a symbolic cremation. The university administration termed it as a symbolic funeral of vice-chancellor Sija Thomas. The vice-chancellor alleged that he was stopped and pushed by more than 18 protesters while leaving the campus after the syndicate meeting. He also accused them of pulling their hair and damaging their car. Following the incident, the police registered a case against 19 people and arrested four SFI activists. 16 students suspended on September 1 The syndicate of the university had on August 22 decided to form a committee to investigate the matter. Subsequently, on September 1, 16 students were suspended. These included students of MSW, MFA, MA, four-year undergraduate program (FYUGP) and PhD. Their entry to the campus was banned. They were only allowed to appear at the hearing on dates fixed by the inquiry committee. The students had challenged the suspension by filing a petition in the High Court on October 12. They said that their studies were being harmed due to the prolonged suspension. They could not attend classes. The students argued that the university was responsible for the low attendance as it was the one who prevented them from coming to the campus. The university said that the attendance and necessary conditions of the students are not met. The university told the court that the students do not meet the required conditions to sit for the examination. This includes minimum attendance and passing internal examinations. According to the university, the students did not even register for the exam within the stipulated time limit. The university said the students did not submit the required application and documents to waive off the attendance shortfall. For this, the recommendation of the concerned department heads or centre directors was also required. Earlier on October 30, the single judge had directed the university to accept the examination fees of the students. At the same time, it allowed them to appear for the exams starting from November 4. The order was subject to the final decision on their main petition. The division bench said, "The petition does not contain the required information and documents. A division bench of Justices Narendran and Murali Krishna S set aside the interim order of the single judge on November 3. The court said that the students' petition did not contain facts and documents proving the eligibility required for the examination. The bench said the petition did not provide the necessary information regarding minimum attendance and internal assessment. The students also did not submit the petitions and recommendations of the departments for waiver of attendance.