Kerala University draft code sparks row over curbs on campus politics

A proposed code of conduct at Kerala University has triggered a political and student-rights debate after a draft sought to place restrictions on a range of political activities on the university campus and affiliated colleges.

The university, however, has stressed that the regulations are still at the draft stage and have neither been finalised nor implemented. The final code, officials said, will be prepared only after consultations with stakeholders, including students.

The draft was recently discussed by the university syndicate. According to members of the Kerala University Employees' Union, the proposed rules would restrict student organisations from holding protests and dharnas, enrolling new members, putting up posters and graffiti, collecting funds, organising programmes featuring political personalities and conducting online campaigns.

The proposed regulations would also give heads of departments on the university campus and principals of affiliated colleges powers to take action against students found violating the rules, including suspension, union members said.

The draft has drawn sharp opposition from the Kerala University Employees' Union, which has described the proposed restrictions as undemocratic and said they could limit students' participation in organisational and political activities.

Under the proposed provisions, students involved in violent activities could face suspension for up to one year. The penalties cited by union members include a fine of Rs 5,000 for students, Rs 10,000 for political organisations and Rs 1 lakh for repeated violations.

The draft also proposes treating unpaid fines as arrears. This could lead to measures including revenue recovery, possible attachment of property, withholding of examination results and criminal proceedings under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, according to union members.

The employees' union has said it will launch protests if the regulations are implemented, arguing that the proposed code could curb students' participation in organisational activities.

Kerala University Registrar Resmi R, however, said the proposal should not be viewed as a final decision.

"The syndicate meeting discussed the Code of Conduct Regulations, and only a draft based on a similar code at MG University, Kottayam, and a High Court order has been prepared. The final code will be brought out only after discussions with stakeholders, including students," she told PTI on Sunday.

She also clarified that no order has been issued to implement the proposed regulations.

The draft has meanwhile drawn criticism from Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Assembly Pinarayi Vijayan, who said attempts to keep politics and political awareness out of campuses would deny young people a space for political thought and organisation.

In a Facebook post on Saturday night, Vijayan said the proposal appeared to reflect concerns among those opposed to student movements and warned that protests could follow if the regulations were not withdrawn.

He argued that citizens aged 18 and above have the constitutional right to vote and participate in choosing governments, and said students should not be denied the opportunity to think politically, organise and respond to issues while pursuing their education.

Vijayan also highlighted the historical role of student movements in India's social and political development, saying campuses had often served as spaces for ideological debate and struggles for rights.

The controversy now centres on a draft that the university says is still open to discussion, with consultations with students and other stakeholders expected before any final code is issued.