The Madras High Court has granted relief to a final-year student of the Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development by staying the rustication order passed against him. The Assistant Registrar had allegedly found some graffiti painted on the hostel wall displaying ''Jai Bhim and Free Palestine''.

The Petition before the Madras High Court was filed to call for the records relating to the impugned order of rustication passed by the first respondent-Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development, and quash the same. The petitioner also sought permission to complete his course by attending the exams and internship.

The Single Bench of Justice T.V. Thamilselvi said, “Considering the welfare of the student/petitioner, the petitioner is at fag end of his carrier. If he is not permitted to attend the examination and internship programme it will cause too much hardship to the petitioner.”

Advocate B.Mohan represented the Petitioner.

Factual Background

It was the petitioner’s case that he is a final year student pursuing a second year master's degree in Masters of Social Work in the college of the first respondent and has cleared all his exams with no arrears while discharging his duties as a student to his utmost sincerity. The Assistant Registrar visited the hostel premises with the warden and the assistant warden, alleging that he had found some graffiti painted on the hostel wall displaying ''Jai Bhim and Free Palestine''. Thereafter, the first respondent constituted an enquiry committee.

In the enquiry, all of the delinquent students were forced to confess against the students who were responsible for a protest held on April 4, 2025. Further, the officer did not intimate the charges levelled against the petitioner and refused to give an opportunity to the petitioner to file his reply.. It was the petitioner’s case that he was rusticated from the college without intimating the specific charges against him by accusing him of being involved in anti-national activity.

Reasoning

The Bench noted that the petitioner was almost at the end of his course, and his welfare had to be kept in consideration.

The Bench ordered, “Further, the respondent is directed to reschedule the examination for the petitioner and issue hall ticket to him so as to attend the examination and also permit him to attend block placement programme in social service department…”

The Bench also directed that the petitioner be included in the WhatsApp group to continue his education, subject to the outcome of the writ petition.

Cause Title: S.Aslam v. The Director Rajiv Gandhi National Institute Of Youth Development & Ors. (Case No.: WP No. 19760 of 2025)

Appearance

Petitioner: Advocates B.Mohan, B.M. Subash, M.H.Dawood

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Madras High CourtJustice TV Thamilselvi

Tulip Kanth

Assistant Editor

Tulip Kanth is an Assistant Editor at Verdictum having over 5 years of experience in the field of legal journalism and editing. She extensively covers judgments of the Supreme Court, High Courts as well as Tribunals. She has previously worked with a legal publishing website where she oversaw the work of other editors and has also created updates on notifications of different Government Ministries. She holds an English Honours Degree from SGTB Khalsa College, Delhi University and has completed her LLB course with specialisation in Corporate Law from Amity University.