Madras High Court Stays Rustication Of Student For “Jai Bhim And Free Palestine” Graffiti, Permits Him To Complete Course

The Madras High Court has stayed the rustication of a 2nd year MSW student for allegedly painting “Jai Bhim and Free Palestine” graffiti in the hostel wall of Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Youth development. Justice TV Tamilselvi stayed the rustication considering that the student was at the fag end of his career and if he was not permitted to attend exams and internship, it would cause him too much hardship. The court therefore directed the college to reschedule his exam, issue hall ticket and permit him to attend the block placement programme in social service department. “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. Hence, the impugned order passed by the first respondent dated 25.05.2025 in RIGNIYD/Admin/2025-2026/058 is ordered to be stayed,” the court ordered. The court passed the interim order in a petition filed by S Aslam, who was pursuing 2nd year master's degree in Master of Social Work. Aslam was accused of indulging in anti-national activity, for allegedly painting a graffiti in solidarity with Palestine. The petitioner's counsels submitted that he had been discharging his duties as student with utmost sincerity and commitment and had cleared all his exams till date. While so, it was submitted that on May 24, 2025, the Assistant Registrar visited the hostel with the warden and the assistant warden and found the graffiti. An enquiry committee was constituted and summons was sent to the student to attend enquiry. It was submitted that the Assistant Registrar had influenced the enquiry committee as he had malafide against the student for exposing a pending sexual assault case against him. It was further submitted that the charges levelled against the student were not intimated and he was refused an opportunity to file his reply. He also contended that the committee did not consider his documentary evidence and conducted the enquiry in an arbitrary and illegal manner. The student contended that he was rusticated from the college without even being informed about the charges against him, claiming that he had indulged in anti-national activities which was against his right to dignity under Article 21 of the Constitution. Thus, he sought to set aside the order of rustication. Counsel for Applicant: B. Mohan, B. M. Subash, M. H. Dawood Case Title: S. Aslam v. The Director, Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Youth Development Citation: 2025 LiveLaw (Mad) 183 Case No: WP No. 19760 of 2025Click Here To Read/Download The Judgment

Madras High Court Stays Rustication Of Student For “Jai Bhim And Free Palestine” Graffiti, Permits Him To Complete Course

Upasana Sajeev

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