A 19-year-old engineering student from Pune’s Sinhgad Academy of Engineering found herself at the center of controversy after being arrested and rusticated over a social media post related to 'Operation Sindoor'. On May 27, the Bombay High Court came down heavily on the college and the State, questioning their harsh actions against the student.
A division bench of Justices Gauri Godse and Somasekhar Sundaresan expressed serious concern about the consequences faced by the student. The court stated that she had already suffered enough and highlighted that the purpose of educational institutions should be to reform, not to criminalize.
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“What is this? You are ruining the life of a student?” Justice Godse asked the college’s counsel.
“You need to reform a student, not convert her into a criminal.”
The court emphasized that the student had shown remorse, clarified her intentions, and issued a public apology. Justice Sundaresan added that punishing her further could only serve to radicalize her, not bring any reform or justice.
“She has already faced the consequence,” Justice Sundaresan observed, dismissing the argument of national interest made by the college’s legal team.
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The college rusticated the student without issuing a show-cause notice, which the court found problematic. According to her plea, the rustication was arbitrary and violated her fundamental rights under Articles 14 (right to equality), 19(1)(a) (freedom of speech), and 21 (right to life) of the Constitution.
She was arrested by Kondhwa Police on May 9 following her Instagram repost from a handle named 'Reformistan'. The post criticized India’s stance during Operation Sindoor, allegedly fueling Indo-Pak tensions. Though the student deleted the post within two hours and issued an apology, she faced severe backlash including threats and protests at her college. Her college cited the post as "anti-national" and claimed it brought disrepute to the institution.
“She cannot be made to attend exams with police escort. She is not a criminal,” Justice Godse remarked when the State suggested she could sit for her exams under police supervision.
The High Court allowed the student’s lawyer, Advocate Farhana Shah, to file a fresh petition for her immediate release. Justice Godse also directed the Public Prosecutor to coordinate with the Investigating Officer and police to expedite the process.
The student, currently in her second year of Information Technology, remains in Yerwada Jail in Pune. Her petition states that the disciplinary action was not only excessive but also unconstitutional, especially considering her age, academic record, and the immediate corrective steps she took.
