The indefinite hunger strike by Kerala’s lower primary school teacher (LPST) rank holders resumed outside the Secretariat on Thursday after police removed protest committee convener S Valarmathi from the site and took her to hospital the previous night. The escalation has brought the dispute over appointments from the existing Public Service Commission rank list into sharper focus, while the government says it has accepted four of the protesters’ five demands.
Valarmathi, secretary of the All Kerala LPST Rank Holders Association, returned to the protest venue around 11am after being discharged from Thiruvananthapuram General Hospital. She resumed her indefinite hunger strike and alleged that the police had forcibly taken her away despite her being conscious and able to speak. She also claimed that she remained in hospital without treatment until 7.30am on Thursday.
According to Valarmathi, her blood pressure and sugar levels were checked at the hospital and found to be normal, but she was later shifted to the intensive care unit. She alleged that the action was intended to keep her away from the protest venue. She said the agitation would continue regardless of her health condition and called for an immediate decision on the rank holders’ grievances.
Another rank holder, M Jayakrishnan, who had taken over the indefinite hunger strike after Valarmathi’s removal, continued his fast even after she returned. The rank holders have been protesting for 129 days, seeking appointments from the existing PSC rank list before it expires.
The police action took place late on Wednesday, when Cantonment police removed Valarmathi and dismantled the temporary shelter, banners and flex boards erected at the protest site. Police had previously issued notices asking the protesters to remove the structures, citing a Supreme Court order.
Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala defended the dismantling of the shelter, saying it was intended to prevent contempt-of-court proceedings against police personnel. He said several contempt cases had been filed against officers in similar matters. At the same time, Chennithala said he intervened after learning about the operation and instructed the police to allow those wishing to protest to continue their agitation.
The minister also said the government had accepted four of the five demands raised by the rank holders. He described the remaining demand as impractical and questioned whether the agitation should continue until every demand was accepted. He urged the protesters to cooperate with the government in resolving the issue.
The rank holders’ demands include appointments from the current PSC list, implementation of a 1:25 teacher-student ratio in lower primary schools, bringing teaching appointments in aided schools under the PSC, and action against alleged recruitment irregularities. The dispute therefore combines an immediate employment demand with questions about teacher deployment, recruitment oversight and the administration of school staffing.
The removal of Valarmathi also triggered political reactions. Opposition party functionaries visited the protest venue, while opposition youth organisations held protest marches. CPM state secretary M V Govindan and CPI state secretary Binoy Viswom visited Valarmathi along with other Left leaders. BJP state president and MLA Rajeev Chandrasekhar, MLA V Muraleedharan and other party functionaries also visited her.
The protest is set to continue outside the Secretariat, with Valarmathi and Jayakrishnan both maintaining the hunger strike while the government’s position remains that four demands have been accepted and the fifth cannot be considered.
