Plea by suspended Sanskrit varsity students may be amended

The Kerala High Court orally enquired whether the petition filed by 16 students of the Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit, Kalady, might be amended to include a challenge to the university Syndicate's resolution to revoke suspension on receipt of unconditional apology.

The Single Bench of P.V. Kunhikrishnan was considering a plea by the suspended students challenging their suspension order and seeking permission to appear for semester examinations. The Syndicate had also decided to extend the suspension of the remaining four students for two more months.

The matter would be considered again on November 16. The court sought the response from the petitioners after the university had informed the court of the Syndicate’s decision. The court had earlier orally enquired why the university’s anger had not subsided even after the students had been suspended for more than 60 days.

The students, Student Federation of India activists, were under suspension pending inquiry for allegedly staging a mock cremation of the Vice-Chancellor, Ciza Thomas, manhandling her and attempting to damage her property.

The students had denied the allegations. The Syndicate had constituted a committee to inquire into the alleged incident and take disciplinary action. The committee had found the students guilty of the alleged offences and recommended action.