A group of 33 female students from Mar Athanasius College in Kothamangalam have taken their concerns to the Kerala High Court, challenging what they perceive as discriminatory curfew regulations imposed on them within the college women's hostel. The legal case, identified as Rachel Mathew & Ors. v State of Kerala & Ors., has been brought before Justice Basant Balaji. The court session on Friday resulted in an adjournment until August 18, as the college's legal representatives requested additional time to formulate a response.
At the heart of the matter is the disparity in curfew timings between the male and female hostel residents. The petitioners highlight the existing practice of a 6:30 PM curfew for female students in the girls' hostel, in stark contrast to the 9:00 PM curfew in place for male students in the boys' hostel. This discrepancy has raised concerns about gender-based discrimination and has drawn attention to a 2019 order issued by the Kerala government. The order stipulated a uniform entry time of 9:30 PM for women residing in college hostels affiliated with State universities. The petitioners contend that this directive ensures equal access to facilities, including libraries, for all students until the specified time.
Despite a State government order dated June 23, extending the entry time for hostel students in aided engineering colleges to 9:30 PM, the college has yet to adjust its curfew policy. The petitioners argue that the college's steadfast adherence to the 6:30 PM entry time for the girls' hostel is both unjust and arbitrary. They assert that such unequal treatment undermines the academic environment and fosters a sense of unfairness.
Furthermore, the petitioners argue that the college appears to be unaware of the government's directive. This lack of acknowledgment has resulted in what they view as the imposition of arbitrary restrictions within the institution, further exacerbating disparities among students.
The female students have previously submitted a representation to the State government, expressing their dissatisfaction with the 6:30 PM curfew imposed on the girls' hostel. Seeking redress, the petitioners request the Court's intervention to enforce alignment with the government's order, thereby setting the curfew time for the girls' hostel to 9:30 PM.
Advocates V Harish, Rajan Vishnuraj, AL Navaneet, and Aswathy Krishnan effectively represented the petitioners in presenting their case before the Court.
TAGS: Kerala High Court Mar Athanasius College Kothamangalam girl students hostel curfew discriminatory petition Justice Basant Balaji adjourned response entry time boys' hostel gender disparity State government order uniform timing facilities access academic environment unfair treatment arbitrary restrictions representation redress intervention government directive alignment advocates V Harish Rajan Vishnuraj AL Navaneet Aswathy Krishnan.
