Kerala Governor P Sathasivam Monday said political parties and other outfits were "exploiting" the youthful vigour of students for "undesirable activities" in campuses in the state and underlined there was no place for violence in a democracy.
Noting that students were the major stakeholders in any university, he said it was their academic and co-academic excellence that reflects in the success of every institution.
"Unfortunately, some of our campuses have become places for political and non-educational activities. We also see political and other outfits exploiting the youthful vigour of our students for undesirable activities", Sathasivam said.
Speaking after inaugurating the Convergence Academia Complex at the Mahatma Gandhi University here, he said the levels to which student politics was linked to the politics of violence was a matter to be seriously looked into and corrected.
"The tendency of using student politics as a cover for malpractices in examinations is extremely unjust and could be cited as inefficiency of those who manage our institutions," the Governor said.
His comments assume significance in view of the findings by the vigilance wing of the Kerala Public Service Commission that some proCPI(M) Student Federation of India (SFI) leaders of Thiruvananthapuram Univesrity College allegedly committed fraud in the police constable examination conducted by the commission.
"Those who support party politics in campuses often swear by the need for providing our youth, an orientation towards democratic functioning. But, where is the place for terror, violence and utter disregard for the law in a democracy?," Sathasivam, a retired chief justice of Supreme Court, said.
He urged the Mahatma Gandhi University to endeavour to be above such shortcomings by ensuring higher quality in teaching and research and by placing academic activity ahead of everything else.
The state capital Thiruvananthapuram had witnessed widespread protests last month seeking action against the SFI leaders allegedly involved in a stabbing incident at University College, which led to closure of the college for 10 days.
Akhil, a BA final year Political science student, was stabbed inside the campus allegedly by some leaders of the SFI. Some accused in the stabbing incident were later found allegedly involved in the fraud in the PSC examination.
The governor had sought a report from the university vice-chancellor.
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