On Wednesday, the High Court of Kerala ruled that strikes, rallies & gheraos that affect classes should not be held in school & college campuses. The HC order further said no one should call upon students to participate in agitations & strikes that may cause hindrance to the smooth conduct of classes.
The crucial verdict has come in the wake of pleas filed by 2 schools in Ranni of Pathanamthitta district. The petitioners said classes are lost due to the political activities of various student organisations & urged the Court to intervene in this regard. Though the court had banned political activities on the campuses, the order isn't being implemented, the school authorities said.
The HC has ordered that there shouldn't be anything like strikes, rallies, agitations or gheraos, which would disrupt the functioning of academic institutions.
The HC observed that academic institutions are meant for only studies & campuses shouldn't be venues of strikes & protests. The HC also held that no student has the right to force another to participate in a strike. Doing so should be considered illegal.
The HC held that nobody has the right to override a student's right to study & 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 HC observed.
Similar measures should be taken on the college campuses as well, the Court said but added that campuses can have peaceful discussions & sharing of thoughts on any issue. This, however, shouldn't be done by causing inconvenience to students or lead to a strike, the Court added.
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