A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court on Tuesday directed the police to provide protection to M. Abdul Salam, Vice Chancellor of the University of Calicut, and other officials for entering and leaving the varsity office.
The Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Ashok Bhushan and Justice A.M. Shaffique issued the directive when a petition filed by Mr. Salam seeking police protection for him and his family members at his official residence came up for hearing.
The court observed that it was the duty of the police to ensure adequate protection for the Vice Chancellor, and that no obstruction was caused to the ingress and egress of the Vice Chancellor and other officials into the office.
The court also asked the State government and other respondents, including various unions, to file an affidavit in response to the writ petition. According to the petitioner, despite a High Court directive to the police not to permit any agitations within 200 metres from the university building, no effective steps had been taken to implement the directive. In fact, a contempt petition against the government was pending in the High Court in this regard. Despite his complaint, the police had not taken any steps to provide protection to his office.
