SFI activists begin relay fast demanding revocation of student suspensions
Protesters at Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit seek the unconditional withdrawal of disciplinary actions taken against 16 students.
Members of the Students Federation of India (SFI) began an indefinite relay fast at the Kalady main campus of Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit (SSUS) on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. According to The Hindu, the agitation seeks the unconditional revocation of the suspension of 16 students following protests held on August 13.
The SSUS Syndicate held a meeting on Monday, November 2, 2026, where it decided on the conditional revocation of the suspension of 12 students. This decision requires the students to submit an unconditional apology promising not to breach disciplinary norms in the future.
The suspension of the remaining four students has been extended for two months. The university stated these students were actively involved in SFI organisational affairs during their disciplinary period, though the students claimed they had entered the campus for research work.
The Syndicate approved a report from a five-member sub-committee which found that the activists had staged a mock funeral for Vice Chancellor Ciza Thomas. Officials stated that CCTV visuals confirmed the participation of the suspended students.
The agitating students rejected these allegations, stating they had performed to highlight damaged light equipment in the Department of Theatre. The university authorities issued a release on Monday rejecting this claim, noting the Head of the Department informed the Syndicate that the lights were damaged during the 2018 floods.
The SFI State leadership has urged cultural activists to support the students. The organisation alleged that authorities refused to let the suspended students write exams despite a directive from a Single Bench of the Kerala High Court.