Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Wednesday dismissed a plea filed by Dalit PhD student Ramadas KS challenging his suspension by the Tata Institute of Social Science (TISS) for alleged misconduct and anti-national activities.
A bench of Justices AS Chandurkar and Milind Sathaye, dismissed the petition saying: “We find that this is not a fit case to interfere. There is no merit in the petition and the same is dismissed.”
About The Case
Ramadas, a PhD student from the School of Development Studies of TISS, had moved the court last May challenging the April 18 order passed by the institute suspending him for two years. He contended that pursuant to the suspension order, his scholarship had been stopped, and he was facing difficulties.
Ramadas was accused of participating in a protest march in New Delhi in January against the “anti-student policies” of the Central government and for urging people to watch the documentary ‘Ram Ke Naam’ during the consecration ceremony of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.
In his petition, Ramadas appealed to the court to set aside the suspension order and restore his entitlements as a student. He said he was “unlawfully, arbitrarily and unfairly suspended by the institute”.
TISS Opposes The Plea
TISS had opposed the plea stating that the student had an alternate remedy, and hence his petition was not maintainable. An affidavit was filed by TISS stating, considering the increasing number of serious misconducts by students, a high-level common committee comprising officials in senior posts within the institute was constituted to deal with issues of misconduct and disciplinary action of students.
The institute emphasised the remedy against any decision by the committee is to approach the vice-chancellor of the institute with an appeal. Hence, Ranmdas could not have approached the HC directly without filing an appeal before the vice-chancellor first, it contended.
Claim Made By TISS
Further, TISS claimed that after a suspension order was issued against Ramadas on April 18, it received letters from certain political parties and organisations, and there was a campaign on social media against the institution. “This shows that the petitioner (Ramadas) is using his influence and strong political links to pressurise the institute to succumb to the illegal demand of the petitioner. Hence, no leniency is required to be shown,” the affidavit said.
Moreover, when students secure admission, they are made aware of their duties and obligations and certain “do’s and don’ts”, breach of which would render the student liable for penal consequences/disciplinary action, TISS claimed.
Ramdas claimed that he might not get any independent hearing from the institute and denied using any political links against the institute. The fact that so many fellow students and organisations are supporting him shows that the suspension order was wrong.
