Bombay HC Refuses Interim Relief To Symbiosis Law Student Suspended Over Political Posts Including Criticism Of 'Operation Sindoor'

Mumbai: The Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court has refused to grant interim relief to a final-year law student of Symbiosis Law School who was suspended over her political social media posts, including one critical of the Indian Army’s recent “Operation Sindoor.”

The student was suspended by the Director of the institute on May 10, 2025, from all academic and non-academic activities “till further orders.” This decision was subsequently upheld by the Campus Disciplinary Committee (CDC) on May 13, which also barred her from appearing in internal, semester, and backlog exams during the suspension period.

The court was informed that a First Information Report had been registered against one Rajas Madepaddi alias Siddik on May 8, and the student was found present with him at the time of his arrest in a Nagpur hotel.

Attention was also drawn to the student’s social media activity. “Most of the posts appear to be political in nature,” Justice Rohit Joshi noted, adding, “however, one post appears to be contrary to the official version of the Government of India in relation to ‘Operation Sindoor’.” Citing the ongoing disciplinary enquiry, the court refrained from commenting on the content of the posts.

The student’s advocate, S. Kulkarni, argued that the suspension was a punishment imposed without following principles of natural justice. He referred to the institution’s Code of Conduct and contended, “Suspending and debarring a student from appearing in examinations is a punishment. Such action cannot be taken without conducting an enquiry.”

However, the court disagreed, holding that the action was administrative in nature. “I am of the prima facie view that the action of respondent no.2 (Symbiosis) is not punitive, but, administrative in nature in view of the rider which is provided in the order/decision dated 13.05.2025, that additional special examination will be conducted for the petitioner if she is exonerated in the disciplinary proceeding,” the judge stated.

Symbiosis’s counsel, K.P. Mahalle, assured the court that the enquiry would be completed by May 25, 2025, and the decision would be communicated to the student the same day.

It also stated that if exonerated, she would be allowed to appear for special exams before the final results of the ongoing semester are declared. Her results would then be declared along with those of other students.

“This, in my considered opinion, will be sufficient to balance the equities,” the court observed. The HC has scheduled the matter for hearing on May 27.

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