Dalit PhD scholar moves Bombay High Court after being suspended by TISS for 'anti-national activities'

A Dalit doctoral candidate from Tata Institute of Social Science (TISS) has approached the Bombay High Court challenging his suspension for two years for his alleged repetitive misconduct and 'anti national activities'. [Ramadas KS v. TISS & Ors.].Ramadas KS, the PhD student from the School of Development Studies, filed a writ petition on May 4 seeking revocation of his suspension. Ramadas is a member of the Students Federation of India (SFI).A division bench of Justices AS Chandurkar and Jitendra Jain heard the petition on May 10 and suggested the petitioner to take recourse to the alternative remedy to approach the Empowering Committee of the university with the suspension order findings instead. However, advocate Lara Jesani for the petitioner disputed the same by referring to the Student Handbook 2023-2024.The Court asked TISS to file a short affidavit to indicate the concerned alternative remedy available to the petitioner and posted the matter for hearing on May 21. .Ramadas' plea said that the suspension order was passed based on a report of an Empowered Committee probing into his alleged repetitive misconduct over a period of time and the said panel entirely failed to consider explanations provided by him.TISS stated in the suspension order that Ramadas' activities conducted over a period of time were 'not in the interest of the nation'. As a public institution, it cannot permit students to indulge in such activities, TISS stated in its order. It also referred to instances including his participation in a protest in Delhi in January 2024 under the Progressive Students Forum (PSF)-TISS banner..Ramadas challenged the suspension order relying on the Constitution of India and the guidelines of the University Grants Commission (UGC).He stated that students are free to form associations and express views in a democratic country. "As per the said UGC guidelines, it is also a mandate on the university/ colleges to allow space for free exchange of ideas and public debate as to foster a culture of critical reasoning and questioning, without discrimination on the basis of their identity or politics," the plea read.The petitioner further said that he has excellent academic credentials and the TISS authority concocted a false narrative to portray him and vilify him."The TISS has infringed upon the petitioner’s rights by levelling false charges against him and have launched the impugned punitive proceedings to punish the Petitioner for his engagement in student activities and for his political views. The TISS has slandered the petitioner for attending a protest demonstration and merely for exercising his constitutional right to free speech," it added.Ramadas also sought direction to allow him to enter the TISS campus and restore his entitlements as a student including continuation and monthly disbursal and payment of his fellowship..Advocates Lara Jesani and Rishika Agarwal appeared for Ramadas.Advocates Rajeev Panday and Ashish Kanojia briefed by PRS Legal appeared for TISS.Advocate Rui Rodrigues appeared for the University Grants Commission.Advocate Shilpa Kaptil appeared for the Union of India. [Read Order]