Kerala to introduce Bill legalising student protests on campuses

NEW DELHI: The government of Kerala is set to introduce a Bill to legalise student protests in the schools and colleges in the state.

The Bill will be introduced to overturn an earlier High Court order which banned campus protests.

KT Jaleel, the higher education minister of Kerala on Tuesday declared in the Kerala Assembly that the Bill is in the final stages and it will be introduced in the House soon.

Jaleel told Asian News International: "Our country has a long history of student movements starting from the freedom struggle. It has been noticed that in those college campuses where students’ union activities are weak, religious organisations that promote extremist ideas (try) to influence students. Also, gangs and drug mafias become active where there are no students' unions."

Court order

On February 26, 2020, the Kerala High Court heard the petition by private schools from the Pathanamthitta district. The petitioners argued that political activities in the school disrupted classes and prevented other students from studying.

The order further pointed out that the students unwilling to participate in the protest are the “victims of student unrest.”

The court held that students’ protest cannot override others right to study and directed the state police chief to ensure “smooth conduct” of classes and take “concrete steps to prevent destructive activities” in the campuses.

The draft Bill

Last year in November, the LDF government presented a draft Bill to legalise students union in higher educational institutions which met with heavy criticism. The Bill, however, was approved in the cabinet.

According to The News Minute, E Sreedharan, popularly known as the ‘Metro-man’ also voiced his disapproval of students’ politics in educational institutes. The report further added the Foundation for Restoration of National Values (which Sreedharan is a part of) will file a petition in the High Court questioning the decision of the government.

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