No move to ban politics at Kerala University: Minister

Kerala's higher education minister, Roji M John, has stated that there are no plans to ban student politics at the Kerala University. This comes after a draft code on student conduct was discussed at a meeting of the institute's syndicate. The minister clarified that the draft, forwarded by the legal department, was simply a proposal for discussion and not a final decision.

John dismissed opposition leader Pinarayi Vijayan's claims that the draft would restrict student union activities. He reiterated the government's stance that student politics should be encouraged on campuses. The draft code had recommended restrictions on various activities of political student unions, including sloganeering, poster-making, dharnas, and fund solicitation. It also proposed departmental action against violators, with the potential for suspension and fines for students involved in campus violence.

John emphasized the importance of student politics in the democratic process. He pointed out that as students turn 18, they gain the right to vote and participate in democracy, which includes deciding the politics of their educational campus. Universities, according to John, are not just places for teaching and issuing degrees; they should also be spaces for discussing politics, understanding it, and participating in the democratic process.

The draft code was prompted by the high court's request for universities to create guidelines for student conduct following the murder of SFI leader Abhimanyu. The high court had approved the 2005 MG University draft code as a model. This draft, which was under discussion after the high court's repeated directions, would undergo amendments before being submitted to the Syndicate for final approval.