SFI in Kerala to fight regressive college rules

The Students Federation of India (SFI) in Kerala is set to intensify agitations against regressive rules imposed by college managements in the wake of suspension of a degree student  for defying a rule that bars boys and girls from sharing bench space in class.

Farook College, an autonomous institution run by a Muslim management, on October 29, suspended Dinu K, a first year Sociology student, for sharing a bench with girls.

Nine boys and girls were reported to the management over the incident. While eight others were allowed back into the class after they tendered an apology, Dinu defied the management on grounds that the rule amounted to gross gender segregation.

T P Bineesh, SFI state secretary, said the CPM-affiliated organisation would peg its agitation to the Farook College incident and question regressive strictures in other colleges.

“Such restrictions have been imposed on students in the college even during cultural events. There are other colleges in the region with restrictions on non-vegetarian food in campus. The SFI will take on all attempts to impose such archaic restrictions,” Bineesh told Deccan Herald.

The college management maintained that there was no bar on social exchanges and the restriction applied only to boy and girl students sharing benches. Despite voices of support for Dinu from outside the campus, students in the college have largely distanced themselves from the protest.