Madras High Court stays suspension of student over 'Free Palestine' graffiti
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CHENNAI: Madras HC has stayed the May 25 decision of Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development (RGNIYD) in Sriperumbudur to suspend a second-year PG student for defacing hostel property by painting 'Jai Bhim' and 'Free Palestine' graffiti in his hostel room.
Justice T V Thamilselvi directed the institute to allow the student and petitioner, S Aslam, to appear in exams and take part in the internship programme. "If he is not permitted to attend the examination and internship programme, it will cause undue hardship to the petitioner," the court said in its interim order on Thursday.
RGNIYD's assistant registrar, Avinav Thakur, the warden, and the assistant warden visited the hostel premises and found Aslam defacing the property with graffiti.
An inquiry committee, including Avinav, subsequently suspended Aslam from the institute and expelled him from the hostel.
However, Aslam alleged that he was being victimised after he and some other students exposed a pending sexual assault case against Avinav in Jharkhand. He claimed that Avinav influenced the committee and coerced some students to testify against him. The court then adjourned the matter for hearing on June 25.
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