IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE ANTONY DOMINIC TUESDAY, THE 29TH JANUARY 2008 / 9TH MAGHA 1929 W.P (C).No. 3332 of 2008(V) ------------------------------- PETITIONERS: -------------- 1. HASEEN A.HALEEM, S/O.ABDUL HALEEM, AGED 18 YEARS, MULAKUKAD HOUSE, PANGODU, PULIPPARA, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM 2. NISHAD N., S/O.NUJUMUDEEN, AGED 19 YEARS, CHARUVILA PUTHENVEEDU HOUSE, GANAPATHIYAMKONAM, KODUVAZHANOOR P.O., THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 3. NISHAD.A., S/O.ASHRAF, AGED 20 YEARS, NISAM MANZIL, ATTOOR, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 4. MOHAMMED SAJITH.S., S/O.SALIM, AGED 20 YEARS, SABEENA MANZIL, ALATHARAMOODU P.O., NAGARUR, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. BY ADV. SRI.SUNNY MATHEW RESPONDENTS: ----------------- 1. THE PRINCIPAL, MANNANIYA COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCE, PANGODU, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 2. THE UNIVERSITY OF KERALA, REPRESENTED BY ITS REGISTRAR. BY ADV. SRI. M. RAJAGOPALAN NAIR, SC FOR UNIVERSITY THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 29/01/2008, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: ANTONY DOMINIC, J. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = W.P.(C) No. 3332 OF 2008 V = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Dated this the 29th January, 2008 J U D G M E N T The challenge in this writ petition is against Exts. P1 to P3. By these orders, certain students of the 1st respondent college have been placed under suspension on account of their being arrayed as accused in Crime No. 219/07 on the file of Pangode Police Station. It is also seen from Exts. P1 to P3 that the students were in judicial custody for some time. Thus it is on account of their being accused in a criminal case and that they were in judicial custody that the Principal of the college has issued Exts. P1 to P3 suspending the students. 2. Petitioners submit that there was absolutely no necessity to place them under suspension and that the very mere fact that they are accused in an F.I.R. does not justify such a drastic action. It is also contended that their examination is to begin soon and that in view of the suspension they will not be in a position to pay the fee for the same. W.P.(C) No. 3332 OF 2008 -2- 3. In the matter of discipline in an educational institution, if the Principal of the college has taken a view, except in a case where there is extreme arbitrariness or such other similar vitiating circumstances, this Court will not be justified in interfering such a decision. Discipline in a campus is a matter of prime importance and the Principal is the best person to assess the requirement of the situation. If following the involvement of the students in a criminal case and their judicial custody, the Principal thought that it is not desirable to continue the students in the campus, I do not think that there is any perversity in such a conclusion of the Principal warranting interference by a writ court. Therefore, on merits I am not persuaded to interfere with Exts. P1 to P3. 4. Be that at it may, the petitioners have a request that they should be permitted to remit the fees for the examination. It will be open to the petitioners to make a suitable representation to the Principal in which case I have no doubt that the Principal will consider the same. Writ petition is disposed of as above. ANTONY DOMINIC JUDGE jan/-