The row over suspension of 16 SFI activists at Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit in Keralam | Explained

Sixteen students affiliated to the Students Federation of India (SFI) were suspended in connection with a protest to press their various demands while the first meeting of the re-constituted Syndicate of the Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit (SSUS) was under way at the main campus in Kalady, Ernakulam, Keralam on August 13, 2026. The incident became controversial after the university authorities alleged that the protesters staged a mock funeral of Vice-Chancellor (V-C) Ciza Thomas.

The FIR filed by the Kalady police stated that the accused allegedly manhandled and defamed the V-C and damaged her car. The State leadership of the SFI, however, rejected the allegations and pointed out that the students of the Department of Theatre had staged a symbolic protest to highlight the damaged lighting equipment used by them as part of their studies.