Kochi, 11 Nov (H.S.): The Kerala High Court will on Wednesday consider a petition by suspended students of Kalady university seeking withdrawal of disciplinary action against them and permission to appear for examinations.

The single bench is expected to announce the date for hearing arguments on the amended petition. During Tuesday’s proceedings, the court indicated that the matter would be heard this week, noting that the Supreme Court had directed its expeditious consideration.

The petition challenges the suspension of 16 students and seeks relief enabling them to take their examinations. The students have amended their earlier writ petition to place their requests before the court.

Claiming that they meet the requirements for examination eligibility, the petitioners submitted that they have 60 per cent attendance. They contended that the Vice Chancellor has the authority to condone the remaining 20 percentage points of the attendance requirement.

According to the petition, restrictions preventing them from entering the campus made it impossible to submit applications seeking attendance condonation. The students have cited this difficulty in support of their request for permission to write the examinations.

The petitioners also disputed the allegations underlying the disciplinary proceedings. They maintained that accusations of attacking the Vice Chancellor and conducting a symbolic funeral were false.

The students approached the Supreme Court after a division bench of the High Court rejected their request for permission to sit the examinations. The apex court subsequently directed that their petition be considered expeditiously.

Meanwhile, the university syndicate had indicated that the suspension of 12 students could be withdrawn if they submitted an apology.

The amended petition places both the suspension and examination eligibility issues before the single bench. Wednesday’s consideration is expected to clarify the hearing schedule, with the students seeking an early decision on their requests for withdrawal of suspension and access to examinations.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman