Kochi: The Kerala Catholic Youth Movement (KCYM – Latin) has strongly condemned the recent act of violence at St. Rita’s Public School, Palluruthy, expressing grave concern over the atmosphere of fear and intimidation created by the assailants. According to KCYM, a group of communal elements forcibly entered the school, disrupted normal activities, and demanded the inclusion of a religious symbol as part of the school uniform, in blatant violation of established rules.
“This action, which seeks to undermine education, discipline, and the secular character of our schools, is completely unacceptable and must be addressed firmly,” KCYM said in a statement. The organization urged government authorities to take immediate steps to safeguard the rights of minority educational institutions and ensure a peaceful, conducive learning environment for students.
KCYM highlighted that the Kerala High Court has previously upheld the autonomy of school managements to determine uniform policies. In 2018, Justice Mohammed Mushtaq affirmed that educational institutions have the full authority to decide the dress code without external interference. A similar directive was issued by the Karnataka High Court in 2022, reinforcing the principle that management decisions regarding school uniforms must be respected.
The youth organization called for strict action against the perpetrators to prevent such incidents in the future and stressed that secular educational spaces must remain protected from communal intrusion, ensuring that students can pursue their education without fear or coercion.
KCYM’s statement comes amid growing concerns over attempts to politicize or communalize educational environments, reaffirming the need for vigilance in defending minority institutions and their constitutional rights.