Kerala HC Grants Bail To 7 Students Arrested For Obstructing Governor's Convoy

On December 11, 2023, the accused obstructed Governor Arif Khan's convoy and disobeyed the orders of the police.

The court emphasized that the issued order should serve as a reminder to students, signaling that engaging in similar offenses could lead to a reformatory path. 

A month after the incident, Kerala High Court granted bail to seven students who were accused of obstructing Governor Arif Khan's convoy and shouting slogans against him. A single bench judge Justice CS Dias heard the matter and granted bail on Friday. On December 11, 2023, the incident took place while the Governor was on his way to the airport. 

The accused obstructed the Governor's convoy and reportedly disobeyed the orders of the police. The incident also prompted Governor Khan to get out of his car and express his disapproval over the incident. 

On Friday, the judge before granting bail interacted with the students and their parents. 

"The petitioners assured this court that they would regularly attend their classes, obey their parents and undergo counseling to transform their attitude and mindset," the court said in the bail order, as per a report on IANS. Further, it said, the attendance sheets of the students must be presented to the jurisdictional courts on a quarterly basis.

The court emphasized that the issued order should serve as a reminder to students, signaling that engaging in similar offenses could lead to a reformatory path. 

"This impulsiveness often overlooks the potential consequences, and by the time the harsh reality sets in, they might find themselves languishing in prison. To prevent such outcomes, addressing the underlying causes is crucial by creating spaces for constructive dialogue and promoting a change in the mindsets of the persons at the helm of affairs," the court opined, as per the report.

Quoting Malala Yousafzai's statement on education as the best weapon, the Court underscored that the effectiveness of educational tool diminishes when it becomes tainted by criminal misconduct and acts of vandalism.

"Students must embrace the power of knowledge to construct and not to destroy," the bench said, as per a report on bar and bench.