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Hindustan Times
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Operation Sindoor: HC quashes rustication of Pune student arrested over ‘Pakistan Zindabad' post
MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court on Monday set aside the rustication order issued to a 19-year-old engineering student from Pune who was arrested last month for reposting a controversial social media message that ended with the phrase 'Pakistan Zindabad', in the context of the recent India-Pakistan military tensions after Operation Sindoor. The court held that the college's action violated the principles of natural justice, noting that the student had not been given an opportunity to be heard before the disciplinary action was taken. The student, represented by advocate Farhana Shah, had challenged the college's May 9 decision to rusticate her, calling it 'arbitrary and unlawful'. She was subsequently arrested, remanded to judicial custody, and denied bail by a Pune magistrate. According to her petition, the student had merely reshared an Instagram post originally published by 'Reformistan', a Pakistan-based account run by Dr Maarib Iftikhar, a doctor and writer. The petition stated that she reposted the content without any malicious intent. Following the backlash, she faced public outrage and casteist abuse both on and off campus. Though she deleted the post and issued an apology, the college proceeded with her expulsion, alleging that her actions were 'anti-national' and posed a threat to campus harmony. The institution also claimed that her post had damaged its reputation and that the rustication was necessary to preserve its ethos. On May 27, a division bench of Justices Gauri Godse and Somasekhar Sundaresan criticised the college's hasty decision. 'Somebody expresses something, and you want to ruin the life of a student? How can you rusticate?' the bench remarked. 'Prima facie, we find the rustication order was issued without giving the petitioner an opportunity to respond, and it requires to be suspended.' A separate bench of Justices Makarand S Karnik and Nitin R Borkar on Monday directed the college to revisit the matter and pass a fresh order in accordance with the law, ensuring the student is granted a fair hearing.
Indian Express
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Bombay HC sets aside rustication letter issued to Pune engineering student for social media post on Operation Sindoor
The Bombay High Court Monday set aside a rustication letter issued by an engineering college in Pune to a 19-year-old student over a social media post during Operation Sindoor, noting that it was issued in breach of natural justice without allowing her to be heard. The high court granted liberty to Sinhgad Academy of Engineering to pass an appropriate decision after hearing her and complying with the principles of natural justice. On May 27, it granted her bail and suspended the rustication order by the college, noting that it was 'hurriedly issued without giving an adequate opportunity to the applicant to respond to any such proposed action appropriately'. The institute rusticated the second-year IT student on May 9 after an FIR was registered against her at the Kondhwa police station in Pune. She was arrested the same day and sent to Yerawada Central Jail. The police said her Instagram post on May 7, in the wake of heightened India-Pakistan military tensions, 'allegedly caused tension between two different religions and was likely to adversely affect public peace'. She was released on May 27 after the Bombay High Court granted her bail. She approached the high court through advocate Farhana Shah and Amin Solkar with a civil writ petition seeking direction to quash the 'arbitrary' rustication letter and that she be reinstated and allowed to appear for the semester exams that were to begin on May 24. She also filed a criminal application challenging the FIR. On Monday, a bench comprising Justices Makarand S Karnik and Nitin R Borkar sought to know from the college whether it would withdraw the rustication letter or the court would pass an order setting it aside. After the college sought an order, the bench noted, 'Admittedly, the letter of rustication is issued in breach of natural justice. The petitioner was not heard before the letter was issued. In view of the matter, impugned letter is set aside with liberty to concerned authority (of college) to pass order after hearing the petitioner and complying with principles of natural justice. The civil writ petition is accordingly allowed.' The court also noted that, as per the May 27 order, the petitioner had made a representation to the college, which was further forwarded to Pune University seeking relief to permit her to appear for the practical and theory exams she had missed during the time she was in custody. The court stated that it had not made any observations on the merits of such a request, and it was open to the director, Board of Examination (BoE) of Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU), to take an appropriate decision on her representation in an expeditious manner. The high court had earlier pulled up the state authorities and the college for 'absolutely shocking' action against her, despite the petitioner having deleted the social media post within two hours and expressed remorse, tendering an apology. 'It appears that the police officers and college are bent upon ruining her life,' the high court had orally remarked. It had also permitted her to appear for the remaining exams from May 29 and had directed that she should not be called to appear at the police station regarding the probe during her exams.
Hindustan Times
30-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Pune student held for Operation Sindoor post and later granted bail appears for exam
A 19-year-old engineering student from the city, who was arrested earlier this month over a social media post about the government's 'Operation Sindoor', appeared for her semester exam on Thursday under security cover, her lawyer informed the Bombay High Court. Advocate Farhana Shah, representing the student, told a vacation bench of Justices Gauri Godse and Somasekhar Sundaresan that her client was released from Yerawada Central Jail on Tuesday night, in line with the court's directions. 'She received her admit card on Wednesday and was able to appear for the exam on Thursday,' Shah said. The court noted that no additional directions were needed and posted the matter before a regular bench on June 9. The High Court had earlier pulled up the Maharashtra government over the student's arrest, describing the police action as 'absolutely shocking' and an overreaction aimed at 'ruining her life.' The court also stayed the rustication order issued by Sinhgad Academy of Engineering, where she is a second-year student, allowing her to take her remaining exams. The student had already missed two written papers and two practicals while in custody. The bench noted that she can approach her college and Savitribai Phule Pune University to seek permission to reappear for those missed exam papers. On Thursday morning, she arrived at the exam centre with a family member. 'College authorities arranged a separate room for her, and she completed the exam by 12.30 pm,' her uncle said. Sinhgad Academy principal Kishor Patil confirmed that the student appeared for her paper in a different classroom. 'A dedicated supervisor has been appointed and two security guards—one male and one female—will remain with her on campus to ensure her safety,' he said. The student, originally from Jammu and Kashmir, had shared a post on May 7 from an Instagram account named 'Reformistan' that criticised the Union government's military action in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. She took down the post shortly afterwards and issued an apology, but a complaint was still filed against her at Kondhwa police station on May 9. She was arrested and sent to judicial custody before moving to the Bombay High Court to challenge both her rustication and the FIR. (With agency inputs)
NDTV
29-05-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Pune Student, Arrested Over Op Sindoor Post, Appears For Exam After Bail
Mumbai: The Pune teen student, arrested for her social media post criticizing the Indian government over Operation Sindoor and later released on bail, has appeared for her semester examination under requisite security, her lawyer told the Bombay High Court on Thursday. The high court had on Tuesday slammed the Maharashtra government for its "absolutely shocking" and "radical" reaction to the engineering student's post and for arresting her. The court ordered immediate release of the 19-year-old, originally from Jammu and Kashmir, from Pune's Yerwada Central Jail, noting the police were "bent upon ruining her life" and turning her into a "hardcore criminal". The court had also suspended the rustication order issued by the student's college Sinhgad Academy of Engineering, and permitted her to appear for ongoing second year semester examinations. Her advocate Farhana Shah informed a vacation bench of Justices Gauri Godse and Somasekhar Sundaresan that pursuant to the court order, the student was released from jail on Tuesday night. "The college issued her the admit card on Wednesday and she has appeared for the exam scheduled on Thursday," Shah said. The student had missed two papers and as many practical exams while she was in custody, she said. The court said the teenager can make necessary application to the college and the Savitribai Phule Pune University, to which the academy is affiliated, seeking special permission to reappear for the missed exams. "No further directions are required now. The matter shall be placed before the regular bench on June 9," the bench said. The college said as per HC's directives, special arrangements have been made for the student to appear for exams. "The girl will be giving her exams in a separate classroom. A separate supervisor will be assigned for her exams and two security guards, one male and one female, will accompany her on the campus for her safety," the college's principal, Kishor Patil, said. The high court, while granting bail to the student on Tuesday, had asked the college management to make special arrangements for her keeping in mind security concerns. The controversy began on May 7 when the student, pursuing a Bachelor of Engineering (Information Technology) degree, shared a post on Instagram from an account named 'Reformistan' that criticised the Indian government amid Operation Sindoor which targeted terror sites in PoK and Pakistan. However, realising her mistake, she deleted the post and also apologised for reposting it. Despite the teenager deleting the post swiftly, the Kondhwa police in Pune registered an FIR on May 9 and arrested her. She was later sent to judicial custody and lodged at Yerwada prison. The college also rusticated her immediately. Challenging her rustication and seeking quashing of the FIR, the student approached the Bombay High Court.
Hindustan Times
29-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Pune student held for Op Sindoor post, appears for exam under security, says HC
The Pune teen student, arrested for her social media post criticizing the Indian government over Operation Sindoor and later released on bail, has appeared for her semester examination under requisite security, her lawyer told the Bombay High Court on Thursday. The high court had on Tuesday slammed the Maharashtra government for its "absolutely shocking" and "radical" reaction to the engineering student's post and for arresting her. Also Read: Pro-Pak post: College makes special arrangements for student to appear for remaining papers after HC raps govt for arrest The court ordered immediate release of the 19-year-old, originally from Jammu and Kashmir, from Pune's Yerwada Central Jail, noting the police were "bent upon ruining her life" and turning her into a "hardcore criminal". The court had also suspended the rustication order issued by the student's college Sinhgad Academy of Engineering, and permitted her to appear for ongoing second year semester examinations. Also Read: Pune teen arrested for posting 'Pakistan Zindabad' on social media moves HC for bail Her advocate Farhana Shah informed a vacation bench of Justices Gauri Godse and Somasekhar Sundaresan that pursuant to the court order, the student was released from jail on Tuesday night. "The college issued her the admit card on Wednesday and she has appeared for the exam scheduled on Thursday," Shah said. The student had missed two papers and as many practical exams while she was in custody, she said. Also Read: HC raps college for rusticating student over post on 'Op Sindoor' The court said the teenager can make necessary application to the college and the Savitribai Phule Pune University, to which the academy is affiliated, seeking special permission to reappear for the missed exams. "No further directions are required now. The matter shall be placed before the regular bench on June 9," the bench said. The college said as per HC's directives, special arrangements have been made for the student to appear for exams. "The girl will be giving her exams in a separate classroom. A separate supervisor will be assigned for her exams and two security guards, one male and one female, will accompany her on the campus for her safety," the college's principal, Kishor Patil, said. The high court, while granting bail to the student on Tuesday, had asked the college management to make special arrangements for her keeping in mind security concerns. The controversy began on May 7 when the student, pursuing a Bachelor of Engineering (Information Technology) degree, shared a post on Instagram from an account named 'Reformistan' that criticised the Indian government amid Operation Sindoor which targeted terror sites in PoK and Pakistan. However, realising her mistake, she deleted the post and also apologised for reposting it. Despite the teenager deleting the post swiftly, the Kondhwa police in Pune registered an FIR on May 9 and arrested her. She was later sent to judicial custody and lodged at Yerwada prison. The college also rusticated her immediately. Challenging her rustication and seeking quashing of the FIR, the student approached the Bombay High Court.
