‘Torture chambers’ present at more Kerala govt colleges, reveals commission report

The commission, formed after the suicide attempt of a student at University College in Thiruvananthapuram, found that students' union offices were turned into torture chambers.

news Student Politics

An independent commission headed by Justice PK Shamsuddin states that other government colleges in the state, apart from University College in Thiruvananthapuram, have also turned their students' union offices into ‘idi muri’ or torture chambers.

The commission was formed after the suicide attempt of a student at University College in Thiruvananthapuram.

The report was prepared by the commission after meeting with the students, alumni and faculties of various government colleges in the state. The commission report, which studied the unlawful activities prevalent in campuses, was submitted to the Kerala Governor on Monday, reports Mathrubhumi News.

Union offices turned torture chambers are present at Maharajas College in Kochi, Madapally Government College in Vadakara and Government Arts College in Thiruvananthapuram, the report states. It was earlier found that University College’s union office was functioning as a torture chamber.

According to the report of Mathrubhumi, the commission also states that students unions do not give consideration for students who are not part of any political parties. It also states that riots happen in campuses with the backing of the top political leadership.

The report also specifically mentioned about colleges where the union is run by Students Federation of India (SFI). Students cannot even raise complaints or compete in students’ union elections in such colleges, it says.

The political parties which formed the government over the years, had never opposed the actions of their respective students organisations, and the commission says that this is one of the reasons for the increase in political conflicts on campuses.

Students, especially the first-year students in colleges, shared their experience to the commission of being physically and emotionally harassed at the union offices.

According to a report in the Times of India, the commission report also recommends appointment of an ombudsman with statutory powers to manage the complaints of students on campuses.

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