Jailed terrorist case accused in legal battle to continue regular LLB courses

KOCHI: Putting jail authorities in a difficult situation, two persons accused in separate terrorism cases and currently lodged in Thrissur high security jail have sought permission to pursue regular courses in law colleges after passing the Kerala Law Entrance Exam with good results. However, as prison regulations do not allow inmates to attend regular classes, they have moved the court and are awaiting a favorable decision.

Vijith Vijayan, from Kalpetta and the fourth accused in the Pantheerankavu Maoist case, secured 35th rank in the law entrance exam. Similarly, Abdul Raoof of Maruthur, Palakkad, who is the 12th accused in a case registered against the Popular Front of India (PFI), is ranked 532nd in the examination. Vijith is eligible for admission in top law colleges in the state, while Raoof is eligible for admission in any government or private law colleges in Kerala. The trial in the Pantheerankavu case is being held at the NIA court in Kochi. In the PFI case, the NIA has filed a charge sheet and the trial is underway.

Recently, Vijith and Raoof approached the NIA court seeking permission to undergo counseling in the admission process. When the petitions were considered, the superintendent of Thrissur high security prison expressed apprehensions about allowing them to attend regular classes in colleges.

In the report, it is stated that the petitioners were allowed to appear for the entrance examinations on the condition that this permission would not be considered as permission to attend full-time classes in regular colleges while in detention. Depending on prison regulations, the warden may authorize an inmate to enroll in a recognized course at a private or open university or in a distance learning program. However, if admitted to a regular course, it is not practical to provide a daily escort and there is no provision for this in the prison regulations.

Lawyers for both defendants said they were willing to take the course online or offline, as permitted by the court. The court asked the prison authorities to allow them to undergo counseling to complete the admission formalities. The possibility of taking courses online or in person will be decided once these formalities have been completed.