Kerala Higher Education Minister Roji M John has clarified that Kerala University has not taken any decision to ban student politics on its campuses or affiliated colleges. His statement came after a draft code of conduct reportedly created concerns about possible restrictions on political activities by students.
The minister said the document that became public is only a preliminary draft prepared for discussion. It was forwarded by the university’s legal department to a syndicate subcommittee for examination. According to John, the document has not been approved and no final decision has been taken on its implementation.
The controversy began after details of the draft code became public. Reports about the draft suggested restrictions on activities such as protests, dharnas, putting up posters, raising political slogans, recruiting members and collecting funds on campus. These proposals led to objections from student organisations and political groups.
John said the draft was being considered in the context of directions from the Kerala High Court regarding student conduct on campuses. He explained that the university had formed a subcommittee to examine the matter and prepare appropriate guidelines.
The minister said the draft will go through further discussion before any final decision is made. He added that student organisations would also be consulted and given an opportunity to provide their views, suggestions and concerns before the final document is prepared.
John also said that the state government’s position is to support student participation in campus politics. He argued that colleges and universities are not only places for academic learning but also spaces where young people can participate in democratic activities and develop leadership experience.
The minister’s clarification came after Opposition leader Pinarayi Vijayan criticised the reported proposals and raised concerns about the future of student politics on campuses. John said the document should not be treated as a final decision because the discussion process is still continuing.
Kerala University Vice-Chancellor Mohanan Kunnummal has also said that the document circulating publicly was not a final university policy and that no such guidelines had been approved. The university is still examining the issue.
For now, there is no final ban on student politics at Kerala University. The draft remains under discussion, and any future rules will depend on the university’s further deliberations, consultations and approval process.