On January 11, 2024, students from Salem Periyar University were detained by Salem police during a protest against the visit of Governor R N Ravi, which included objections to his meeting with the vice-chancellor facing corruption charges. The protest, marked by black flag displays, led to the detention of 175 students and the subsequent filing of charges against 178 individuals, including members of political parties, for allegedly disrupting law and order.

This incident, widely covered by the media, underscores the fundamental right to protest, as recognized by international instruments and the Indian Constitution. HRDA's appeal stresses the perceived reprisal against student activists through detention and legal action, urging urgent intervention from the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) under Section 12 (a) of the Protection of Human Rights (Amendment) Act, 2019, to conduct an impartial inquiry as its part of suo moto action.