SFI took out a protest march to Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit (SSUS) in Kalady, Kerala today after three students who were on indefinite relay hunger strike due to deteriorating health were shifted to hospital.
The students were protesting against the suspension of 16 SFI affiliated students by the university administration. Hospitalisation has intensified the dispute and SFI said its agitation will continue till suspensions are revoked unconditionally.
Three Hunger-Striking Students Shifted to Hospital
The three students who needed medical attention were P.M. Ashwanth, K.V. Abhijith and P.S Archana. Police took them to Angamaly Taluk Hospital for examination first. They were later taken to Little Flower Hospital for further treatment.
The development came as the relay hunger strike entered its 12th day. After their hospitalisation three other students — Shiva, Shradha and Athulya — took over the fast to continue the protest immediately.
SFI organised the march to show solidarity with students and put pressure on university administration to meet their demands.
Why Are Students Protesting?
The dispute began after a protest during the university Syndicate meeting on August 13, 2026. On September 1, 16 students affiliated with SFI were suspended.
The university administration said protesters had held a mock funeral for Ciza Thomas VC; manhandled her and attempted to damage university property.
The suspended students and SFI denied these allegations. They said that their protest was a street play to show damaged lighting equipment in the Department of Theatre.
The students also put forward an 18-point charter of demands — campus infrastructure, faculty appointments, fellowships, drinking water and other basic facilities.
Students Reject Conditional Revocation of Suspension
On November 2 the university Syndicate offered to lift the suspension of 12 students if they unconditionally wrote an apology and promised that disciplinary rules would be followed in future.
The suspension of the remaining four students was extended.
The students refused to accept the condition because they did not want to apologise and so began an indefinite relay hunger strike demanding that all 16 suspensions be withdrawn unconditionally.
#WATCH | Kochi, Keralam | SFI stages protest march to Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit in Kalady in light of students who were on a hunger strike at Kalady Sanskrit University to be transferred to the hospital shortly following deteriorating health. https://t.co/7F4Uz34x1W
— ANI (@ANI) November 13, 2026
University Dispute Reaches the Courts
The case also passed through Kerala High Court and Supreme Court.
A Single Bench of Kerala High Court had earlier allowed the suspended students to appear for semester examinations but a Division Bench set aside that order.
The Supreme Court refused to grant urgent relief and directed that the matter be heard expeditiously by High Court.
In subsequent proceedings, the High Court reportedly asked when the suspensions were to last and why the university wanted an apology. The court also called for efforts to resolve the dispute.
SFI Says Agitation Will Continue
The original hunger strikers are receiving medical attention and three other students are continuing the relay fast so the protest continues.
SFI has said that it will not withdraw agitation till all 16 suspensions are unconditionally revoked and their academic interests are met.
The events at Kalady have drawn renewed attention to the dispute between the student organisation and the university administration. Health of protesting students, legal proceedings and suspension issue (if any) are likely to remain central in the coming days.
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