Kerala Student Suicide: HC Orders Police Protection For Amal Jyothi College Amidst Protests

The Kerala High Court on Friday ordered police protection to Amal Jyothi College for a period of one month. This order comes in response to protests by student political bodies after a tragic incident where a student took her own life in the college hostel.

A single bench of Justice N Nagaresh directed the police to ensure that the college’s entry and exit points are not blocked by protestors at the gates. The student’s suicide on June 2 triggered widespread protests within the campus, with students using social media to raise concerns about various issues such as harassment by college staff and moral policing.

According to the college’s plea, members of student political organizations, including the Students Federation of India (SFI), Kerala Students Union (KSU), Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), and Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), gathered at the college gates on June 6, shouting abusive slogans and obstructing entry and exit routes. The plea alleges that this resulted in a “hostage-like situation” and disrupted law and order.

The plea further claims that despite the presence of police personnel, no action was taken to control or disperse the crowd. Consequently, the college was forced to close, causing hardships for the management, disruption of university exams, and hindrance to the admission process for new students.

In light of these circumstances, the college filed a petition seeking police protection for its staff and property, with the aim of ensuring the maintenance of law and order on its campus.