Kerala High Court
Harikrishna S.R vs The Chancellor on 24 October, 2025
Author: V.G.Arun
Bench: V.G.Arun
2025:KER:79601
WP(C)Nos.39012 & 38640 of 2025
1
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
PRESENT
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE V.G.ARUN
FRIDAY, THE 24TH DAY OF OCTOBER 2025 / 2ND KARTHIKA, 1947
WP(C) NO. 39012 OF 2025
PETITIONER:
HARIKRISHNA S.R
AGED 24 YEARS
S/O SUDHAKARAN T .K,
THATTARUKUZHIYIL USHASADANAM,
CHEEKILODE, NANMANDA,
CHEEKILODE P.O, KOZHIKODE, PIN - 673315
BY ADVS.
SRI.P.E.SAJAL
SHRI.MUHAMMED HISHAM T.
SMT.FATHIMA RINSHA T.P.
RESPONDENTS:
1 THE CHANCELLOR
CALICUT UNIVERSITY, KERALA RAJ BHAVAN,
KERALA GOVERNOR'S CAMP -P.O,
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, PIN - 695099
2 THE VICE CHANCELLOR
UNIVERSITY OF CALICUT,
CALICUT UNIVERSITY P.O,
THENHIPALAM, MALAPPURAM,
PIN - 673635
3 UNIVERSITY OF CALICUT
REPRESENTED BY ITS REGISTRAR,
CALICUT UNIVERSITY P.O, THENHIPALAM,
MALAPPURAM, PIN - 673635
2025:KER:79601
WP(C)Nos.39012 & 38640 of 2025
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4 THE RETURNING OFFICER FOR THE ELECTION TO DSU
UNIVERSITY OF CALICUT 2025-26,
CALICUT UNIVERSITY P.O,
THENHIPALAM, MALAPPURAM, PIN - 673635
BY ADVS.
SHRI.S.PRASANTH
SHRI.P.SREEKUMAR (SR.)
SRI. P.C. SASIDHARAN, SC.
THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION
ON 24.10.2025, ALONG WITH WP(C).38640/2025, THE COURT ON THE
SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:
2025:KER:79601
WP(C)Nos.39012 & 38640 of 2025
3
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
PRESENT
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE V.G.ARUN
FRIDAY, THE 24TH DAY OF OCTOBER 2025 / 2ND KARTHIKA, 1947
WP(C) NO. 38640 OF 2025
PETITIONER:
AMARDEV T.V
AGED 23 YEARS
S/O. VINOD KUMAR C.V.,
IIND YEAR M.A. ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE,
DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH, UNIVERSITY OF CALICUT,
CALICUT UNIVERSITY P.O., THENHIPPALAM,
MALAPPURAM - 673 635,
RESIDING AT THAIVALAPPIL HOUSE,
KADANNAPPALLI, PARIYARAM MEDICAL COLLEGE P.O.,
KANNUR DISTRICT, PIN - 670503
BY ADVS.
SRI.T.B.HOOD
SMT.M.ISHA
SMT.SHIYON BIJU
RESPONDENTS:
1 UNIVERSITY OF CALICUT,
REPRESENTED BY ITS REGISTRAR,
CALICUT UNIVERSITY P.O., THENHIPPALAM,
MALAPPURAM, PIN - 673635
2 VICE CHANCELLOR,
UNIVERSITY OF CALICUT,
CALICUT UNIVERSITY P.O.,
THENHIPPALAM, MALAPPURAM, PIN - 673635
2025:KER:79601
WP(C)Nos.39012 & 38640 of 2025
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3 DEAN OF STUDENT'S WELFARE,
UNIVERSITY OF CALICUT,
CALICUT UNIVERSITY P.O.,
THENHIPPALAM, MALAPPURAM,
PIN - 673635
4 RETURNING OFFICER FOR ELECTION TO DEPARTMENT
STUDENT'S UNION (DSU)
UNIVERSITY OF CALICUT 2025 -25,
CALICUT UNIVERSITY P.O.,
THENHIPPALAM, MALAPPURAM, PIN - 673635
BY SRI. P.C. SASIDHARAN, SC.
THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION
ON 24.10.2025, ALONG WITH WP(C).39012/2025, THE COURT ON THE
SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:
2025:KER:79601
WP(C)Nos.39012 & 38640 of 2025
5
JUDGMENT
Petitioners are the post-graduate students pursuing their studies in the University of Calicut. The grievance of the petitioners is regarding the abrupt stoppage of election process at the stage of counting of votes and the refusal to re-commence and complete the process of election.
2. Learned counsel for the petitioner in WP(C) No.39012 of 2025 alleges that the counting process was disrupted due to the malpractices adopted by certain Officers of the University itself, and it should be ensured that, henceforth the election is proceeded in a free and fair manner.
3. Learned counsel for the petitioner in WP(C) No.38640 of 2025 submits that the election was deliberately disrupted by a group of students, upon realizing that the trend was against them.
4. Learned Standing Counsel for the University submits that the election can be conducted from the stage of 2025:KER:79601 WP(C)Nos.39012 & 38640 of 2025 6 polling, but it should not coincide with the exams scheduled from November first week onwards. It is the further submission of the learned standing Counsel that there should also be a direction to the jurisdictional Police to provide adequate protection to ensure smooth conduct of the polling and counting process.
5. I heard the learned Standing counsel for the Chancellor also.
6. At this stage, it is not necessary to go into the factual allegations as to the reason for stopping the election. The prime concern is to ensure that the democratic process of election to the Department Students' Union is completed without further delay.
The Writ Petitions are hence disposed of, with the following directions;
i) The Vice-Chancellor shall issue necessary direction for continuing the election to the Department Students' Union from the stage of polling and to complete the election process on 2025:KER:79601 WP(C)Nos.39012 & 38640 of 2025 7 or before 31.10.2025.
ii) Necessary measures shall be taken to ensure that the polling is conducted in a fair manner.
iii) The jurisdictional Police shall ensure that the polling and counting process is not disrupted by miscreants and outsiders are not permitted to enter the venue of election.
The above directions are issued, without prejudice to the enquiry ordered as per Ext.P3 in WP(C).No. 39012 of 2025 being continued, subject, of course, to the challenge, if any, raised by the affected persons.
Sd/-
V.G.ARUN JUDGE SPV 2025:KER:79601 WP(C)Nos.39012 & 38640 of 2025 8 APPENDIX OF WP(C) 39012/2025 PETITIONER'S EXHIBITS EXHIBIT P1 TRUE COPY OF THE NOTIFICATION OF ELECTION SCHEDULE OF DSU ISSUED BY THE DEAN OF STUDENTS' WELFARE DATED 25.09.2025 EXHIBIT P2 TRUE COPY OF THE LIST OF VALID NOMINATIONS PUBLISHED BY THE 4TH RESPONDENT DATED 29.09.2025 EXHIBIT P3 TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER PASSED BY 2ND RESPONDENT DATED 15.10.2025 EXHIBIT P4 TRUE COPY OF THE BYE LAW OF 3RD RESPONDENT UNIVERSITY DATED 29.06.2012 EXHIBIT P5 TRUE COPY OF THE REPORT OF ASSISTANT REGISTRAR DATED 13.10.2025 EXHIBIT P6 TRUE COPY OF THE COMPLAINT SUBMITTED BY THE PETITIONER AND OTHER AFFECTED CANDIDATES TO 1ST RESPONDENT DATED 17.10.2025 EXHIBIT P7 TRUE COPY OF THE COMPLAINT SUBMITTED BY THE PETITIONER AND OTHER AFFECTED CANDIDATES TO 2ND RESPONDENT DATED 16.10.2025 RESPONDENTS' EXHIBITS: NIL //TRUE COPY// PA TO JUDGE 2025:KER:79601 WP(C)Nos.39012 & 38640 of 2025 9 APPENDIX OF WP(C) 38640/2025 PETITIONER'S EXHIBITS EXHIBIT P1 TRUE COPY OF THE BYE-LAWS OF THE COLLEGE STUDENT'S UNION, ALONG WITH THE COLLEGE UNION ELECTION RULES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALICUT, APPROVED BY THE SYNDICATE OF THE 1ST RESPONDENT UNIVERSITY AS PER RESOLUTION DATED 31.01.1984 AND REVISED AS PER RESOLUTION DATED 29.06.2012 EXHIBIT P2 TRUE COPY OF THE NOTIFICATION ISSUED BY THE 4TH RESPONDENT ON 24.09.2025 FOR ELECTION TO THE DEPARTMENT STUDENT'S UNION (DSU) 2025 - 26, UNIVERSITY OF CALICUT EXHIBIT P3 TRUE COPY OF THE NOTIFICATION DATED 25.09.2025 ISSUED BY THE 3RD RESPONDENT PRESCRIBING THE SCHEDULE FOR ELECTION TO THE DEPARTMENT STUDENT'S UNION (DSU) 2025
- 26, UNIVERSITY OF CALICUT EXHIBIT P4 TRUE COPY OF THE LIST OF VALID NOMINATIONS PUBLISHED BY THE 4TH RESPONDENT ON 29.09.2025 FOR ELECTION TO THE DEPARTMENT STUDENT'S UNION (DSU) 2025
- 26, UNIVERSITY OF CALICUT EXHIBIT P5 . TRUE COPY OF THE LETTER DATED 16.10.2025 SENT BY THE REGISTRAR OF THE 1ST RESPONDENT UNIVERSITY TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE DEPARTMENT STUDENTS' UNION EXHIBIT P6 JUDICE. TRUE COPY OF THE COMMUNICATION DATED 21.10.2025 ISSUED BY THE 2 ND RESPONDENT RESPONDENTS' EXHIBITS: NIL //TRUE COPY// PA TO JUDGE