Kerala High Court Directs Govt Medical Colleges To Implement Order Relaxing Timings Of Hostels

The Kerala High Court on Tuesday directed all Principals and other concerned authorities of Medical Colleges to act in terms of the Government Order dated 06.12.2022, which has substantially relaxed the timings of Government Medical College Hostels, with immediate effect. 

Justice Devan Ramachandran, noted that the said GO although stipulates the closing time of gates for both girls and boys to be 9.30 P.M., does give sufficient leeway to the students to enter it after that time, subject to certain bare minimum conditions. 

"Prima facie, I find this order to be a welcome step forward, particularly when Smt.Parvathy Menon – learned Standing Counsel for the Kerala Women's Commission, affirms that it does not brook of any gender discrimination", the Court observed. 

Exception has however, been stipulated for first year students, who are not yet used to the new environment and the locality.  

It was thus of the view that the aforementioned order ought to be implemented forthwith. 

The instant plea was moved by certain girl students of Government Medical College Kozhikode against the impugned notification issued by the Higher Education Department barring female students from going out of the Hostel after 9.30 PM.

The Court had earlier questioned why there should be curfew for Girls alone, when there are no such restrictions for boys. The Court observed that the Government has an obligation to make the campus safe and imposing a curfew on women's hostels will not serve any purpose and nothing can be gained from putting restrictions on the women students.

The Court had also sought the rationale as to why restrictions have been imposed on students from even walking in the campus after 9.30 PM. The Court observed that there could be justification for the same only if compelling reasons could be shown.

The case has been posted on 22.12.2022 for further consideration. 

The petitioners in the instant case are represented by Advocates V. Harish and Rajan Vishnuraj. Government Pleader Parvathy Kottol, Standing Counsel of Kerala University of Health Science P. Sreekumar, and Standing Counsel of Kerala Women's Commission Parvathy Menon appeared on behalf of the respondents. 

Case Title: Fiona Joseph v. State of Kerala

Click Here To Read/Download The Order