SFI activists begin relay fast at SSUS, demand unconditional withdrawal of students’ suspension

Activists from the Students' Federation of India have initiated a relay fast at Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit to demand the unconditional withdrawal of student suspensions. The protest follows an administrative decision to extend the suspension of four students for an additional two months. University authorities took action against the four individuals, who were part of an original group of sixteen disciplined students, after alleging that they remained actively involved in organizational activities despite being under disciplinary restrictions.

The ongoing demonstration at the university campus underscores escalating tensions between student unions and university management in Kerala. SFI leaders argue that extending disciplinary measures based on union involvement penalizes legitimate political association and democratic student representation. The university administration maintains that students under disciplinary action must adhere strictly to campus codes of conduct. As the relay fast continues, student representatives maintain that protests will persist until administrative orders against their members are completely revoked.

For readers in India, this ongoing conflict reflects long standing national discussions around student politics, freedom of assembly, and administrative governance within higher education institutions. Kerala has a long history of active campus politics, making administrative bans and disciplinary extensions highly contentious public issues. The situation at SSUS highlights how public universities balance campus discipline with the rights of political organizations, serving as a clear reference point for similar student union disputes across Indian educational institutions.