Kochi: The High Court has asked all medical colleges in the state to follow the Kerala government order relaxing hostel curfews. Justice Devan Ramachandran was considering the petition against the 9:30 pm curfew at the Kozhikode medical college hostel.    

The new order states that male and female students, from second year, could enter hostel after 9:30 pm by entering their names in the movement register. Students of first year have to enter early. 

Asked if students were allowed to leave the hostel after 9:30 pm if needed, the Kerala University of Health Sciences (KUHS) said they could go out for urgent matters, with the permission of the warden. 

The petition also sought permission to use the main reading room at the Kozhikode medical college till 11 pm. But the government has informed that more staff would be needed to keep the reading room open after 9 pm.  

Meanwhile, the KUHS told the high court that hostels were not tourist homes for nightlife. In an affidavit filed in the court, the university argued that people attain maturity at the age of 25 and whatever they say before this age could not be accepted.