JUDGMENT

[WP(C) Nos. 33291/2024, 35376/2024]

Heard Mr P C Sasidharan and Ms Sneha M S learned Counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioners; Mr P Sreekumar learned Senior Counsel assisted by Mr S Prasanth, learned Standing Counsel for the Chancellor of Universities; Mr Manu Govind learned Standing Counsel for Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University; Ms Nisha George learned Counsel of the 6^th respondent and Mr Premchand R Nair learned Senior Government Pleader.

Facts

2. The petitioner in W.P.(C) No.35376/2024, Dr M.K. Narayanan, was functioning as Dean of the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences of the Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (KVASU). The petitioner in W.P.(C) No.33291/2024 is the Assistant Warden of the Men’s Hostel of KVASU. Being the Dean of the Colleges, the petitioner, Dr M.K. Narayanan, was the Warden of the said Hostel.

One student, Sidharthan J S, a second-year BVSc and AH course of the College, aged around 21 years as on the date of the incident, was found hanging in the bathroom of the dormitory of the Undergraduate Men’s Hostel in the College Campus on 18.02.2024.

2.1 The complaint and information received from some students at the Colleg