Kalady University exam dispute: Supreme Court declines direct intervention, returns case to High Court

NEW DELHI: Students involved in the Kalady University examination controversy suffered a setback in the Supreme Court, which declined to intervene directly in their petition and sent the case back to a single bench of the Kerala High Court.

The bench headed by Justice P.S. Narasimha heard the petition filed by 16 students challenging the order of the High Court division bench. The Supreme Court declined to issue any direct order on the matter and instead said the single bench should hear the case expeditiously and take a final decision.

The Supreme Court also directed the single bench to hear the matter without delay. The court observed that students are required to maintain certain standards of discipline in universities. However, keeping the students' academic future in mind, it suggested that the university should be prepared to conduct a special examination exclusively for them if the single bench delivers a favourable verdict.

Appearing for the students, senior advocate P.V. Dinesh argued that their attendance shortage was the result of their suspension over protests. He contended that the university had deliberately created the situation that led to the shortage of attendance.

The university, however, argued that discipline must be maintained on campuses and that the court should examine the attendance issue. It also informed the Supreme Court that it was willing to conduct a special examination if the High Court ruled in the students' favour.