Overview
- A syndicate-prepared draft Students' Code of Conduct that proposes curbs on protests, recruitment, posters, fundraising, events with political figures and online campaigning circulated publicly on Sunday and drew swift opposition.
- The draft sets disciplinary steps and financial penalties including suspensions for violent acts, fines for students and organisations, recovery of unpaid fines, withholding exam results and possible criminal action under national laws.
- University officials and Higher Education Minister Roji M. John have stressed no ban on student politics has been decided and that the draft will be changed only after the sub-committee reviews feedback from student groups and other stakeholders.
- The leak prompted organized pushback from the Kerala University Employees' Union, student bodies and senior political leaders who called the measures undemocratic and threatened protests if the rules are enforced.
- The draft was produced by a syndicate sub-committee using Mahatma Gandhi University’s 2005 code as a model in response to Kerala High Court directions after the 2018 murder of student Abhimanyu M., which required universities to frame conduct rules.