Citing a Kerala High Court order, the authorities at the University of Calicut have banned protests within a 200-metre radius of the campus at Tenhipalam in Malappuram district.
This was conveyed to leaders of students’ organisations by the station house officer (SHO) attached to the Tenhipalam police station on Sunday. The police notice comes against the backdrop of a string of protests organised by the Students Federation of India (SFI), the Kerala Students Union (KSU), and the Muslim Students Federation (MSF) on the campus recently.
While the SFI protest was against the alleged saffronisation of State universities, the KSU and the MSF also staged protests in subsequent days against the reported manhandling of the university staff during the SFI protest. Meanwhile, P. Raveendran, Vice-Chancellor, suspended nine SFI activists on the charge of assaulting university staff and creating a ruckus in the V-C’s office.
The SHO’s order says that as per the Kerala High Court order, demonstrations, strikes, or ‘dharnas’ will not be allowed within a limit of 200 metres of the university buildings, Pareeksha Bhavan, and administrative office. According to sources, the original order was issued in 2012 when M. Abdul Salam was the V-C. The current V-C is now reported to have sent a communication to the police officials reminding them of such a directive. The police have warned the students of strict action if they violate the order.
However, SFI functionaries said it would continue the protests until the suspended students were taken back.
Published – July 13, 2025 07:55 pm IST
