University’s ‘no dowry’ demand from students draws criticism

University’s ‘no dowry’ demand from students draws criticism

Students asked to sign undertaking in University of Calicut

27/09/2021

K.S. SudhiKOCHI

The University of Calicut has come under fire for seeking an undertaking from its students that their admissions and degrees shall be cancelled or withdrawn if they breach the provisions of the Dowry Prohibition Act.

The university, following a proposal from Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan, had asked the students to sign an undertaking stating that they would not demand or accept dowry, directly or indirectly.

B.G. Harindranath, former Kerala Law Secretary, felt that the order was legally unsustainable if challenged before a court of law. Though accepting or demanding dowry was punishable under the Act, the cancellation of a degree certificate was not contemplated under the Act, he said.

T. Asaf Ali, former director-general of prosecution, too, criticised the move, terming it illegal, unconstitutional, arbitrary and whimsical. A mere complaint to the police was sufficient for the university to deprive a candidate of his/her degree certificate, which could violate his/her constitutional right to life and livelihood. The withdrawal of a degree for an unrelated offence would deprive a person of his/her livelihood, which was unconstitutional, he said.

Kaleeswaram Raj, a Supreme Court lawyer, said the directive was irrational and unconstitutional. The awarding of a degree was based on educational parameters and could not be linked to an extraneous act. Creating awareness against dowry was one thing. But it was absurd to seek an undertaking that he/she would not engage in a penal act, he said.

M.K. Jayaraj, Vice-Chancellor of the university, said the intention was to create awareness among students against dowry.