Kochi: The High Court has settled the petition filed by the female students of Kozhikode Government Medical College against the time restriction in the women’s hostels of the medical college. Warden’s permission is enough to go inside the campus from the hostel after 9.30 pm. But for other needs, the court order requires permission from the parents to leave the hostel after 9.30. The petition was heard by a bench of Justice Devan Ramachandran. The court settled the petition by recording the government’s position. The court appreciated that the petitioners had inspired a new way of thinking.
While considering the petition this morning, the court had repeatedly clarified that hostels are not prisons. The consideration of the court is to ensure the constitutional rights of the citizens. Girls have constitutional rights. Perhaps girls have more such rights than boys. The court also pointed out that discriminatory restrictions cannot be imposed on girls.
The High Court had earlier directed the medical college principals to strictly implement the new order issued by the health and education department regarding time control. Many references in the affidavit filed by the University of Health on the issue were controversial. In an affidavit submitted to the court, the university had said that it is not good for the society to provide students complete independence at the age of 18, and youth attain maturity at the age of 25. The University of Health has informed the court that the time restriction was imposed as part of discipline and keeping in mind the safety of the students. All this has become controversial.
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