After HC loss, suspended TISS PhD student will approach SC, says case about 'fundamental rights of students'

NEW DELHI: After failing to get a relief from the Bombay High Court, the Dalit PhD student suspended by the Tata Institute of Social Sciences has decided to approach the Supreme Court. Ramadas Prini Sivanandan, who is accused of misconduct and anti-national activities, now views the case as a fight for the fundamental rights of students and democracy on campus of higher education institutions.

Reacting to the HC order, the PhD scholar took to social media and said, “After 10 months and 9 days of legal proceedings, today the Bombay High Court has dismissed my petition against the suspension by the TISS administration. Once I evaluate the full judgment, will take this matter to the Supreme Court of India.”

Anguished over the journey of going through a court case and now planning to repeat the course, Ramadas shared how it affected his daily life along with education and hinted towards the deeper implications of the ongoing clash with the institute. “Though this period was not at all easy to go through, and realizing that it would again take more time away from my education and daily life, I deeply understand that this case is not just about me, but about the fundamental rights of all students and campus democracy in India's higher education system. The study and struggle will continue without fail,” were his words.

He also thanked those who stood with him and expressed their “support and solidarity”.

What Bombay HC order says

While dismissing his petition, Bombay HC noted that his actions brought defame to the institution. A division bench of Justices A S Chandurkar and M M Sathaye, who listened to the proceedings, did not find it “a fit case to interfere” and any merit in the petition.

In its order, the court said it was "clear as sunshine that the march (in which Ramadas participated) was politically motivated". The judges also didn’t find any fault with the institute's order that Ramadas led the general public to believe that the protest and views were the views of the institution, noting that he protested under the banner of TISS' student organisation. "This has brought disrepute to the institute in its view," the high court said.

Ramadas can have any political view and has the complete freedom to express them, but doing so under the banner of the respondent institute is what the institute objects to, which can have its own views, the HC stated.

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Dalit PhD student’s plea

In his plea, the student expressed difficulties as his scholarship had been stopped following the suspension order. The student claimed he was "unlawfully, arbitrarily and unfairly suspended by the institute".

TISS had opposed his claims, stating he had an alternate remedy and could appeal against the suspension order before a committee set up within the institute. Ramadas, however, said he may not get an independent hearing from the institute.

The institution put Ramadas P S on a two-year suspension in April last year, for participating in a protest march in New Delhi against the central government's "anti-student policies" and for urging people to watch "Ram Ke Naam" documentary during the Ayodhya Ram temple consecration ceremony.