New Delhi: A request by a student of Lovely Professional University in Punjab to fly home to Kerala with his pet cat at government expense was turned down by the Kerala House in Delhi, even as the state government arranged air tickets for nine students stranded amid tensions at the university.

The student, who insisted that the cat should also be provided an air ticket, eventually left the pet with a friend in Delhi and boarded a flight to Kannur along with the other students.

The nine students, accompanied by the cat, reached Delhi in the early hours of Tuesday and approached the Kerala House seeking train tickets to return home. With Chief Minister V. D. Satheesan in Delhi to attend a Congress Working Committee meeting, officials suggested that the students raise the matter with him.

After hearing their request, the Chief Minister directed officials to arrange air tickets for the students to return to Kerala.

It was during the arrangements by the NORKA department at Kerala House that the “cat issue” emerged. One of the students sought an air ticket for his pet as well. Officials turned down the request, following which the student reportedly said he could not return home without the cat.

The officials then offered to arrange a train ticket for the student and the pet. The student subsequently agreed to leave the cat behind. He handed over the pet to a friend in Delhi and travelled to Kannur by air with the other students.

The episode comes amid criticism over the government’s decision to bear the cost of air travel for students studying at a private university where they pay substantial fees. Questions have also been raised over the use of public funds for the return of students during crisis situations.

A similar issue had come up earlier during the Ukraine war, when some students returning to India had sought government assistance to transport their pets from Delhi to their home states.