Kerala HC takes up suo motu case as hartal over caste row death turns violent

Kochi: The Kerala High Court on Tuesday initiated a case on its own over violence reported during the statewide hartal called by various Dalit organisations, seeking justice in the death of Kannur dental student Nithin Raj.

The court issued notices to those who called the hartal and directed the state police chief to submit a report by the evening. The matter relates to incidents of violence and disruption reported from different parts of Kerala.

A vacation division bench of Justices Basant Balaji and P Krishna Kumar considered the issue after reports indicated the protest had affected daily life across the state.

Students scheduled to appear for the Vellore Institute of Technology Engineering Entrance Examination (VITEEE), along with people travelling to hospitals, were among those caught in traffic snarls.

The court has, in earlier rulings, held that any loss or damage caused to the public or the government during hartals and strikes is illegal and unconstitutional, and can lead to contempt proceedings.

Hartal impact and reported violations

The dawn-to-dusk hartal, held from 6 am to 6 pm, disrupted normal life in several areas. In multiple locations, activists blocked vehicles and forced shops to shut.

Around 52 Dalit organisations, including the Justice for Nithin Raj Action Council, had called the strike. While announcing the protest, the groups had said essential services would not be affected and that vehicles would not be forcibly stopped.

However, violations were reported from various districts.

Student death and case details

Raj, a first-year BDS student at a private dental college in Ancharakandy in Kannur, was found critically injured after falling from a building on April 10 and later died in hospital.

Following complaints from his family alleging caste- and complexion-based harassment, police registered a case against two faculty members.

The case includes charges of abetment of suicide and provisions under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

The High Court has sought a detailed report on incidents linked to the hartal and the action taken by the police.