The Kerala High Court has stayed an order of the Mahatma Gandhi University Vice-Chancellor asking the students’ union to refund the money sanctioned for a national conference citing that the posters for the conference had contained political undertones as they portrayed the image of a cockroach.
A petition filed by the union sought to quash the Vice-Chancellor’s order for recovery of funds from them and to declare that the disputed posters had not violated any provisions of the Students’ Code of Conduct Rules, 2005. They also sought a declaration that the university had no authority to recover the funds granted.
Two posters
The Vice-Chancellor had allegedly taken issue with two posters. One depicted a cockroach standing ‘defiantly’ before a boot and the other depicted a cockroach appearing to push against, or hold back, a large curtain. The petitioners claimed that the artwork was meant to symbolise resistance. The university had issued a circular stating that political activities will not be permitted in programmes conducted using the funds and emblem of the university.
The petitioners pointed out that the Director of Students’ Welfare had issued a notice alleging that certain posters displayed in connection with the conference violated the university’s order banning political activities in programmes held using university funds, and directed the removal of such posters.
The union representatives had informed the Director that none of the flex boards, banners or posters displayed any symbol, flag, slogan or campaign material related to any political party recognised by the Election Commission of India. The Registrar of the university had then issued a notice to the union chairman that the explanation was unsatisfactory and confirmed that the financial assistance for the programme would be cancelled. The petition also stated that the Vice-Chancellor then issued the order directing a refund of the sanctioned amount while permitting the conference to proceed without the funding.
Published - August 07, 2026 09:20 pm IST