The student approached the Court asking for her suspension to be cancelled and to be allowed to appear for her exams.
Bombay: The Bombay High Court has refused to grant any temporary relief to a final-year law student from Symbiosis Law School who was suspended for sharing a post on Instagram that allegedly went against the Indian Government’s official stance on Operation Sindoor, the military action against Pakistan.
The student approached the Court asking for her suspension to be cancelled and to be allowed to appear for her exams.
However, Justice Rohit W Joshi, in an order dated May 14, 2025, said that the student’s suspension could not be considered a punishment because it was only temporary and would depend on the result of the disciplinary enquiry.
“In case at hand, I am of the prima facie view that the action of respondent no.2 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 Court noted.
The student was suspended on May 10 by the Director of Symbiosis Law School in Pune. The suspension order said she was barred from all academic and non-academic activities until further notice.
On May 13, the Campus Disciplinary Committee (CDC) upheld the Director’s decision and agreed that the student should remain suspended.
As per the CDC’s order, she cannot take part in internal assessments, end-semester exams, or even backlog (repeat) exams while the suspension continues.
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However, the committee added that:
“In the event the student is exonerated, special examinations would be conducted to ensure she suffers no academic loss.”
Background
This case began after the police registered an FIR (First Information Report) on May 8 at the Lakadganj Police Station against a person named Rajas Madepaddi alias Siddik.
At the time of his arrest, the law student was reportedly staying at a hotel in Nagpur with him. However, the suspension order issued by the college does not mention this hotel incident.
Instead, the college said that it was suspending the student because of posts made from her official Instagram handle. Most of these posts were political in nature, but one specific post stood out — it allegedly presented an opinion that was against the official stance of the Indian government on “Operation Sindoor.”
The student challenged the college’s suspension decision in court. Her lawyer, Advocate S Kulkarni, argued that the suspension and the ban on attending exams were actually a form of punishment and were given without following proper procedure. He pointed to the university’s own rules — the Symbiosis International (Deemed University) Code of Conduct, 2023 — which says that such punishments can only be given after a disciplinary enquiry is completed.
Since no enquiry had been finished at the time the student was suspended, the lawyer said the college’s decision was not legal.
On the other hand, the college’s lawyer, Advocate K P Mahalle, said that the suspension was not a punishment but an administrative step taken so that the enquiry could be done properly. He also promised the Court that the enquiry would be finished by May 25.
The State was represented by Additional Government Pleader S S Jachak.
After hearing both sides, the Bombay High Court said that the matter was still in its early stages.
“This in my considered opinion will be sufficient to balance the equities,” the Court said, referring to the fact that the college had promised special exams if the student was found innocent.
The Court directed Symbiosis Law School to complete the enquiry and inform the student of the decision by May 25. It also instructed the student to fully cooperate with the enquiry process.
The next hearing has been scheduled for May 27.
View Order
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