The Kerala High Court on Wednesday ruled that strikes, rallies and gheraos that affect classes should not be held in school and college campuses. The court order further said no one should call upon students to participate in agitations and strikes that may cause hindrance to the smooth conduct of classes.
The crucial verdict has come in the wake of petitions filed by two schools in Ranni of Pathanamthitta district. The petitioners said classes are lost due to the political activities of various student organisations and urged the court to intervene in this regard. Though the High Court had banned political activities on the campuses, the order is not being implemented, the school authorities said.
The High Court has ordered that there should not be anything like strikes, rallies, agitations or gheraos, which would disrupt the functioning of academic institutions.
The court observed that academic institutions are meant for only studies and campuses should not be venues of strikes and protests. The court also held that no student has the right to force another to participate in a strike. Doing so should be considered illegal.
The court held that nobody has the right to override a student's right to study and assured that action would be taken against anyone that contravenes the order issued by the court.
If such incidents take place in schools, the authorities concerned, including the district educational officer, can take action against erring students. They can even summon the police to restore the peace in the campus, the court observed.
Similar measures should be taken on the college campuses as well, the court said, but added that campuses can have peaceful discussions and sharing of thoughts on any issue. This, however, should not be done by causing inconvenience to students or lead to a strike, the court added.
