Kerala Student Suicide: High Court Grants Police Protection To Management, Staff Of Amal Jyothi College Of Engineering

The Kerala High Court on Friday directed the police authorities to extend adequate protection to the management personnel, staff, and others of Amal Jyothi College of Engineering for the smooth functioning of the College for a period of one month. 

Justice N. Nagaresh while granting interim protection, observed, "Since it is admission time, if ingress and egress to the college is obstructed, it will affect the functioning of the College". 

The College had approached the Court seeking police protection for its management personnel, staff, vehicle and students amidst protests and alleged threats by the members of various student political organizations, following the suicide of a second year BTech student in the ladies hostel of the college on June 2, 2023.

It is the case of the petitioners that following the incident, several persons belonging to student political outfits such as 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 main gate of the campus, shouting slogans in abusive language and blocking the ingress and egress to and from the college. It was averred that such members of student political organizations forcefully entered the campus, and threatened that the staff, students, and any person inside the campus from leaving the premises, and blocked the gates.

During the hearing today, the Government Pleader informed the Court that the State had deployed police personnel in the College for protection of staff and others. The Court was informed that a decision had been taken to reopen the College on June 12, 2023, and that investigation into the death of the student had been handed over to the Crime Branch. 

The counsels for the petitioners further submitted that although there was an understanding among the parties who participated in a meeting convened on June 7, 2023, no formal agreement had been signed by the student organizations and that there was thus, every likelihood of further protests and obstruction. The counsels however added that the Management had signed an agreement on their part. 

In this context, the Court granted interim protection for a period of 1 month. 

The Court also issued notice to the Student unions. 

Case Title: Amal Jyothi College of Engineering & Anr. v. State of Kerala & Ors.