Controversy over suspension of 16 SFI activists at Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit in Kerala

Protest march organized by the People’s Protection Committee to the Kalady Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit campus in Kerala against the stances of the Vice-Chancellor and the State Education Minister | Photo credit: RK Nithin

Sixteen students affiliated to the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) were suspended in connection with the protest for pressing their various demands while the first meeting of the reconstituted syndicate of Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit (SSUS) was being held at the main campus in Kalady, Ernakulam, Keralam on 13 August 2026. Vice Chancellor (VC) Ciza Thomas. The FIR filed by the Kalady police said the accused allegedly manipulated and defamed the VC and damaged her car. However, the state management of SFÚ rejected the accusation and pointed out that the students of the theater department drew attention to the damaged lighting equipment they were using during their studies in a symbolic protest.

The Syndicate meeting held on 2 November 2026 decided to allow the conditional lifting of the suspension of 12 of the total 16 students once they tendered an unconditional apology saying they would not violate disciplinary norms in the future. SFÚ activists said they would not apologize and launched an open-ended fast-track demand for the suspension orders to be unconditionally withdrawn. The legal tussle emerged after the Single Bench of Kerala High Court allowed the suspended students to write the semester examinations beginning November 4, 2026. But Divisional Justice Anil K. Narendran and S. Muralee Krishna allowed the petition filed by the VC and the Syndicate against the Single Bench’s order dated November 3, 2026, without the students appearing in court. to apologize for the lack of attendance. The aggrieved students have now approached the Supreme Court seeking redress.

Published – 04 Nov 2026 14:06 IST