Kerala University imposes blanket ban on campus politics under new code of conduct

Police use water cannons as SFI activists breach barricades at the Kerala University Senate House in Thiruvananthapuram during a protest march. (File photo) Kerala University has imposed a blanket ban on political activities on its campus and affiliated colleges by framing regulations that introduce strict disciplinary mechanisms, swift inquiry timelines and severe financial liabilities on political organisations.The Syndicate has framed the Kerala University (Students’ Code of Conduct) Regulations, 2026, which prohibits active student politics. The restrictions bar organising rallies, strikes, dharnas, gheraos and sloganeering inside classrooms, offices or other places on campuses.Students are banned from mobilising memberships, soliciting funds, defacing walls with posters or graffiti, and using social media platforms to coordinate political unrest. The guidelines also restrict hosting seminars or debates featuring celebrities and other people with political affiliations or links to activities “having controversial or anti-national nature”.However, academic discussions, research, debates or classroom activities supervised by faculty are not considered as political activity, provided they do not involve political mobilisation.Disciplinary actionPrincipals, heads of departments, and the registrar are granted authority to initiate disciplinary action upon finding prima facie evidence. Offending students will face immediate suspension of up to 30 days, while grave offences involving violence, assault, extortion or molestation could trigger a mandatory minimum suspension of one year pending investigation.Following a disciplinary process that could last up to 30 days, final penalties will be imposed ranging from formal warnings and compulsory issuance of Transfer Certificates to temporary or permanent dismissal.The regulations also impose joint financial liability on both students and political organisations. First-time violations without property damage incur a ₹5,000 fine on the student and a ₹10,000 fine on the political party involved, with repeated violations escalating up to ₹1,00,000 for political organisations.Unpaid fines will be treated as arrears of land revenue under statutory revenue recovery procedures, potentially leading to property attachments, withheld exam results and criminal prosecution under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, 1984. Penalised students will retain the right to appeal any disciplinary order to the Vice-Chancellor within 30 clear days of receipt of the order.Union opposes moveThe Left-aligned Kerala University Employees’ Union has opposed the regulations, terming the move undemocratic. The organisation held that students should be provided the opportunity to develop political awareness and participate in organisational activities in a democratic society.The union also alleged that the attempts to restrict student organisation activities were connected to broader ideological and political interests. It claimed that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) was pursuing an agenda to restrict independent political thought on campuses. Published - September 18, 2026 07:02 pm IST