Bombay High Court Upholds TISS Suspension of Dalit PhD Student

The Bombay High Court upheld Tata Institute of Social Science's decision to suspend Dalit PhD student Ramadas K S for misconduct and anti-national activities. Accused of participating in a politically-motivated protest, his suspension led to scholarship issues. The court deemed the suspension order legal and justified.

The Bombay High Court ruled on Wednesday against granting relief to Dalit PhD student Ramadas K S, who was suspended from the Tata Institute of Social Science (TISS) for alleged misconduct and anti-national activities.

Justices A S Chandurkar and M M Sathaye of a division bench dismissed Ramadas's petition challenging the institution's April 2024 suspension decision. The court found the suspension order legitimate, citing no illegality or perversity.

Ramadas's participation in a protest march against the central government's policies in New Delhi and his involvement in urging people to watch a documentary during the Ayodhya temple ceremony brought disrepute to TISS. Thus, the suspension was deemed justified.

Ramadas argued that his scholarship was suspended post the suspension order, causing personal hardship. TISS contended that he had the option to appeal the suspension through an internal committee but might not receive an independent hearing.