Bombay High Court Reverses Rustication of Student Over Social Media Post

Court Overturns College Decision

On Monday, the Bombay High Court annulled the rustication of a 19-year-old engineering student from a Pune college, who was detained in May due to a controversial Instagram post regarding Operation Sindoor, according to reports from a legal news outlet.

A panel comprising Justices MS Karnik and NR Borkar ruled that the student had not been given a chance to present her case before the rustication was enforced. Nevertheless, the court permitted the college to issue a new order after hearing from the student.

The student, currently in her second year of information technology at Sinhgad Academy of Engineering, which is affiliated with Savitribai Phule Pune University, had reposted content on Instagram on May 7 that criticized the Indian government amidst military tensions with Pakistan following Operation Sindoor.

After facing online threats, she removed the post and issued an apology.

Despite this, she was arrested on May 9, coinciding with her rustication from the college.

On May 27, a different bench of Justices Gauri Godse and Somasekhar Sundaresan condemned the college's actions, emphasizing that educational institutions should support students rather than criminalize them.

The High Court also criticized the Maharashtra government for the student's arrest, instructing her legal counsel to submit a bail application, which was to be granted promptly.

She was released on bail on May 27, with the court ensuring that she would not be summoned by police during her examinations and prohibiting her from leaving Maharashtra without prior approval.

Additionally, the court acknowledged that she had missed her exams on May 24 and May 27 while in custody and allowed her to discuss this with university officials.

The police were ordered to ensure her safety during the exams, and the college was given the option to provide separate seating if necessary.

On Monday, the court was informed that she had successfully completed all three outstanding exams.