Rein in student?unions, says Kerala High Court

Kochi: The Kerala High Court on Wednesday observed that if the State could not control the vandalism and illegal activities of student organisations going by the name of strikes, it should take appropriate steps to prevent the functioning of such student organsiations.

Students have to transform themselves into better citizens and the future of the nation is in their hands.

Of course, they are to be equipped with the socio-political features of the state and they should be competent enough to tackle the relative economic, social or political factors during the course of their studies, the court observed.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice, Justice Manjula Chellur and Justice A.M. Shaffique came up with the observation while considering a plea filed by Prakashan .N, a student of the Government Law College Ernakulam, seeking a ban on student unions including KSU, SFI and ABVP.

The Right to Education is now a fundamental right and any activity going against that right in a democratic society would be a clear violation of it.

The demonstrating unions would have to take into consideration the plight of the other students of the same college, the court held.

The KSU had been on a strike for several days at the Ernakulam Law College in a bid to get the suspension of a few students withdrawn.

The students were  suspended for consuming liquor on the campus, the court pointed out and the Principal was gheraoed in her cabin.

All citizens have the right to demonstrate or hold dharnas, but it ought to be in a peaceful manner. It should not be inside the room of an official.

Those who indulge in such activities should ask themselves whether they would permit such vandalism and such violence against themselves, their family or their friends, the court asked.