The authorities at the University of Calicut are reportedly seeking legal opinion related to an interim order from the Kerala High Court on Wednesday (October 7, 2026) asking them to include research scholars in the voters’ list of affiliated colleges and university departments and centres for the upcoming students’ union polls.

The order was in response to a petition filed by a section of research scholars who objected to the authorities’ decision to create a separate Calicut University Research Scholars’ Union to bring all research scholars across affiliated colleges and research centres under one body. The research scholars also highlighted certain court orders that said the university authorities had no right to interfere in the election process of affiliated colleges.

The election in affiliated colleges is scheduled for October 15 and the polls on the university’s main campus is scheduled for October 28. The voters’ list in affiliated colleges has already been published and the deadline for filing nomination papers is over. The polling dates may have to be revised if any of the research scholars want to file their nomination papers. In this context, the university authorities are reportedly seeking more clarity on implementing the court order.