The Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court has declined to intervene in the suspension of a final-year law student from Symbiosis Law School, who faced disciplinary action after posting political content on social media, including comments on the Indian Army’s ‘Operation Sindoor.’ The student was barred from participating in both academic and non-academic activities pending a disciplinary enquiry.
Vacation bench Justice Rohit B. Joshi, while hearing the matter on May 14, 2025, noted that the petitioner had been found in the company of Rejaz, an independent journalist associated with the Democratic Students Association in Kerala. Rejaz was arrested on May 7 for allegedly publishing posts critical of the Indian government’s military operation. A day later, the petitioner was picked up for questioning, and her mobile phone was seized. However, she was not arrested.
Following these events, Symbiosis Law School issued a suspension order dated May 13, 2025, based on the First Information Report registered against Rejaz. The student challenged her suspension through a writ petition (Writ Petition No. 2654 of 2025), arguing that the action taken against her—particularly the denial of permission to appear for the 9th Semester examination—was punitive and violated the university’s 2023 Code of Conduct, which outlines procedures for handling student misconduct.
She contended that suspending a student without conducting a proper inquiry contravenes the principles of natural justice. The petition also claimed that she was being unfairly targeted following an anonymous social media post alleging she had been "radicalised" by Rejaz.
The institution has taken a decision to suspend the petitioner and to debar her from appearing in the examinations during the period of suspension. The suspension will operate till the culmination of the disciplinary enquiry, the court recorded in its order.
The bench also took note of Symbiosis Law School’s assurance that the disciplinary proceedings would be concluded by May 25, 2025, and that the petitioner’s last examination is scheduled for June 5, 2025.
"I am of the prima facie view that the action of Symbiosis Law School is not punitive, but administrative in nature, in view of the rider provided in the suspension order that additional special examination will be conducted for the petitioner if she is exonerated in the disciplinary proceeding. This, in my considered opinion, will be sufficient to balance the equities," Justice Joshi observed.
The High Court therefore refused to grant interim relief, emphasizing that the case is still at an early stage, and full facts are yet to come on record. The institution was directed to complete the enquiry and inform the petitioner of the outcome by May 25, 2025. The petitioner was also directed to fully cooperate with the process.
"If the petitioner is exonerated in the said disciplinary proceeding, the respondent-Institution shall hold a special examination for the petitioner for the papers which she could not appear during the period of suspension, so as to ensure that no academic loss is caused to her," the court added.
The matter highlights the institution's approach to maintaining decorum and discipline while ensuring students' academic rights are preserved if found not guilty. The court’s refusal to interfere was grounded in the understanding that the university’s current action is a precautionary administrative measure, not a punitive one.
Advocate S. Kulkarni represented the petitioner, Assistant Government Pleader S.S. Jachak appeared for the State, and Advocate Kuldeep Mahalle appeared on behalf of Symbiosis Law School.
Case Title: IP vs State of Maharashtra
Writ Petition No.: 2654 of 2025
Coram: Justice Rohit B. Joshi
Order Date: May 14, 2025
