Sidharthan death case: Kerala HC upholds expulsion of 19 students

The Kerala High Court has upheld the expulsion from the college and the debarring of 19 students who had been arraigned as accused in the case relating to the death of Sidharthan J.S., a student of Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University in Wayanad, in February 2024, following alleged ragging.

This followed an appeal filed by his mother M.R. Sheeba against a single judge order that annulled their expulsion, and directed their readmission to study on the Mannuthy campus. The 19 students accused in the case were expelled from the college on the basis of an inquiry conducted by the anti-ragging committee. The single judge passed the order while quashing the interim and final reports of the anti-ragging squad that debarred the students.

The single judge had also ordered the fresh inquiry and permitted the students to continue their studies on the Mannuthy campus, subject to the outcome of the inquiry, based on petitions filed by the students. The Division Bench subsequently stayed the single judge’s verdict.

Published - May 28, 2025 09:08 pm IST