Teacher rankholders restart hunger strike outside Kerala secretariat after police raid

Protest Resumes

S. Valarmathi, secretary of the All Kerala Lower Primary School Teachers Rankholders' Association, returned to the protest site outside the Secretariat on Thursday to resume her fast-unto-death agitation on its 130th day. The move came just hours after Cantonment police forcibly removed her and dismantled the protesters' shed and flex boards late Wednesday night, citing her deteriorating health when she was shifted to the General Hospital on the 16th day of her fast.

Political Fallout

M. Jayakrishnan, another rankholder, also continued his hunger strike after stepping in during Ms. Valarmathi's absence. The late-night police action drew swift reactions, bringing Yuva Morcha and DYFI workers alongside CPI(M) leaders P.K. Biju and C.S. Sujatha to the location, with DYFI members quickly erecting replacement sheds. Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala stated on Thursday morning that the government held no animosity toward the demonstrators but acted to avoid contempt of court proceedings, noting the Supreme Court's directives against indefinite occupations of public roads. He added that the administration had already accepted four of the five core demands and urged the participants to call off the strike.

Background and Demands

The agitation centers on delays in appointing candidates from the Kerala Public Service Commission rank list, which took effect across all 14 districts on May 31, 2025, with around 11,758 candidates listed but fewer than 500 appointments made by August. Protesters are demanding immediate appointment orders, a change in the teacher-student ratio from 1:30 to 1:25, timely reporting of vacancies, recruitment for head teacher positions, and bringing aided-school appointments under the PSC. Although talks with General Education Minister N. Samsudeen led to a temporary pause in August, the strike resumed over unresolved issues, including a previous protest where Ms. Valarmathi tonsured her head on October 26.

Context

Public service commission recruitment lists in India typically have a fixed validity period, making timely appointments crucial for candidates before their eligibility expires. Protests by job aspirants outside major government administrative centers are a common form of pressure used to demand expedited government hiring and policy changes. Governments often balance these public employment demands against budgetary limits and established staffing ratios.