Kerala HC bars SFI-linked suspended students from exams at Kalady university
Synopsis
The Kerala High Court's Division Bench has quashed a single-judge order that had briefly allowed suspended SFI-linked students at Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit, Kalady, to sit their exams. With 10 students now locked out of exams starting Wednesday, and the students refusing to submit written apologies to the Syndicate, a resolution looks distant — and an academic year may be at stake.
Key Takeaways
The Kerala High Court's Division Bench on 3 November 2026 set aside a single-judge order that had allowed suspended students to appear for exams.
10 of the 16 suspended students who were scheduled to write exams beginning Wednesday are now barred from doing so.
The students have been under suspension for 65 days following a violent campus agitation on 23 August at Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit, Kalady .
The university Syndicate offered to withdraw suspension for 12 students if they submitted written apologies — an offer the students rejected.
SFI activists have called the verdict unfair and are reportedly exploring further legal options.
The Kerala High Court's Division Bench on 3 November 2026 set aside a single-judge order that had temporarily allowed suspended students of the Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit, Kalady, to appear for their upcoming examinations, delivering a significant setback to the Students' Federation of India (SFI). The ruling means 10 of the 16 suspended students who were due to sit the examinations — scheduled to begin on Wednesday — will now be barred from doing so.
Background to the Suspension
The students have been under suspension for 65 days, following a campus agitation on 23 August that the university's inquiry committee found had turned violent. The committee's report, placed before the university Syndicate, also noted that a symbolic funeral procession was taken out for the Vice-Chancellor during the protest — conduct the committee reportedly found unbecoming of a university campus and damaging to its academic atmosphere.
The Legal Battle
A single-judge bench had on 30 October granted the students temporary relief, permitting them to write their examinations in view of the potential impact on their academic future. However, Vice-Chancellor Ciza Thomas moved the Division Bench challenging that order. The Division Bench accepted the university's argument that permitting suspended students to write examinations in contravention of disciplinary regulations would set an adverse precedent, and quashed the earlier order.
The Syndicate's Conditional Offer
Separately, a Syndicate meeting on Monday had decided that the suspension of 12 of the 16 students could be withdrawn if they submitted written apologies. The students, however, refused the condition, maintaining that their agitation was for legitimate demands and that they were not prepared to acknowledge wrongdoing or furnish apology letters in order to secure relief.
What Comes Next
SFI activists have described the Division Bench verdict as unfair and have stated they are exploring other legal options. With the court order providing no relief and the students unwilling to submit apologies, the prospect of missing the examination cycle — and potentially losing an academic year — has become a real concern. This comes amid an ongoing attempt by the university administration to find a negotiated resolution, though that path appears stalled for now.
Point of View
And the students' refusal to comply, reflects a broader pattern in Kerala campus politics where SFI agitations often escalate until a face-saving exit is brokered. The more pointed question is whether the university's disciplinary machinery — stretched over 65 days without resolution — is adequately equipped to balance punitive action with the constitutional guarantee of access to education. With examinations already under way, the window for a remedial solution is closing fast.
NationPress
3 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why were SFI students at Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit suspended?
The students were suspended following a campus agitation on 23 August that the university's inquiry committee found had turned violent. The committee also noted that a symbolic funeral procession was taken out for the Vice-Chancellor during the protest, which it deemed unbecoming of a university campus.
What did the Kerala High Court's Division Bench decide?
The Division Bench set aside an earlier single-judge order that had granted temporary relief to the suspended students, allowing them to sit their examinations. The court accepted the university's argument that permitting suspended students to write exams in violation of disciplinary rules would set a wrong precedent.
How many students are affected by the High Court order?
Of the 16 students under suspension, 10 were due to write the examinations. All 10 are now barred from appearing following the Division Bench's ruling. Examinations at the university are scheduled to begin on Wednesday.
What was the Syndicate's offer to the students, and why did they refuse?
At a Syndicate meeting on Monday, it was decided that the suspension of 12 of the 16 students could be lifted if they submitted written apologies. The students refused, saying their agitation was for legitimate demands and that they were unwilling to admit wrongdoing.
What legal options remain for the suspended students?
SFI activists have indicated they are exploring other legal options following the Division Bench ruling. However, no specific avenue has been announced yet. With exams already scheduled to begin, the timeline for any fresh legal intervention is extremely tight.
