After HC rap, Buddhist Monk vacates Mumbai University campus, ends protest

Buddhist monk and former Mumbai University research scholar Bhadant Vimamsa, formerly known as Rajesh Balkhande vacated the Kalina campus on May 3. He had been in the spotlight since 2025 for staging a prolonged protest demanding aided status for the Pali department, following an undertaking submitted before the Bombay High Court.

Vimamsa had been protesting at the university campus for several months, occupying space near the main gate under a tree. He continued protest despite repeated administrative action and legal proceedings. In a latest development, the 52-year-old PhD scholar submitted an undertaking before a division bench of Justices Ravindra V. Ghuge and Hiten S. Venegavkar, stating that he would vacate the premises by May 3. The court was hearing a petition filed by Mumbai University seeking directions for police assistance to remove him from the campus.

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Academic background, PhD dispute

Mumbai University informed the Bombay High Court that Vimamsa's PhD enrolment was cancelled in November 2025 as he failed to complete the programme within the stipulated timeframe. His hostel room was sealed during the proceedings. He later left the university, travelled to Myanmar to study Buddhism, and returned in 2023 as a monk. His academic term ended in December 2024, however, he did not submit his thesis and continued his protest on campus.

The university told the HC that despite granting accommodation and holding multiple discussions, he continued to raise demands, including funding and aided status for the Pali department.

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Court Intervention, 'akhada' remark

IE reports that the Bombay High Court had earlier criticised the prolonged occupation of campus space, observing that universities cannot be turned into an “akhada”. The court had also indicated that protests should be held only at designated venues such as Azad Maidan with due permissions. Mumbai University raised concerns over the disruption of academic functioning and security issues due to frequent visits by outsiders to the protest site. The court had warned that continuing this could lead to an 'unpleasant order' if the premises were not vacated.

Following Thursday’s hearing, Vimamsa submitted an undertaking agreeing to vacate the campus. The court recorded the statement and disposed of the matter. Subsequently, Vimamsa vacated the Kalina campus as directed, bringing an end to the protest that had continued for months.