# Kerala University denies draft to ban campus politics 2026-09-21T04:11:37+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 3 independent outlets Kerala University vice chancellor Mohanan Kunnummal has dismissed as fake a draft proposal circulating online that sought to bar student politics across the university and its affiliated colleges. The document, titled Kerala University [Students' Code of Conduct] Regulations 2026, had proposed banning strikes, political slogans, social media campaigns and inviting figures with an anti-national background, with fines and suspensions for violations. Higher education minister Roji M John said no action has been initiated to ban campus politics and that the government promotes it. Leader of opposition Pinarayi Vijayan called the draft anti-democratic and said it reflects fear of questioning youth. The VC said the university was unaware of the document and that no proper procedure for drafting had been followed. The syndicate sub-committee will next seek written feedback from student organisations before any further steps. ## Indian Opinion Analysis The coverage splits along predictable lines. New Indian Express leads with the draft's detailed restrictions and the minister's denial, framing the issue as a live controversy. Times Now focuses on the VC calling the document fake, shifting the story toward official correction. Mathrubhumi provides the fullest background, including the 2018 Abhimanyu murder and the High Court's directive. The key difference: the Express treats the draft as a real document under dispute, while Times Now dismisses it as already debunked. The discrepancy between the minister saying no action was initiated and the VC saying the university never prepared the document leaves the draft's precise status ambiguous. The syndicate sub-committee's next step, seeking written feedback from student organisations, will be the concrete test of how seriously the draft is taken. ## Coverage - newindianexpress.com (government critical) Leads with controversial draft details and political criticism before government denial - timesnownews.com (pro government) Headlines university denial as 'fake' and minimises controversy details - english.mathrubhumi.com (neutral report) Provides comprehensive background including legal origins and both sides Tags: Kerala University, Mohanan Kunnummal, Pinarayi Vijayan, Roji M John Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/draft-to-ban-kerala-university-student-politics-called-fake-by-vc/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/draft-to-ban-kerala-university-student-politics-called-fake-by-vc/#story-in-brief