Bombay HC Slams Maharashtra Govt and Sinhgad College for Arresting Pune Student Over Operation Sindoor Post
Mumbai | May 27, 2025 — In a strong rebuke to both the Maharashtra government and Sinhgad Academy of Engineering in Pune, the Bombay High Court on Tuesday questioned the legality and ethics of rustication and arrest of a 19-year-old engineering student over a social media post related to Operation Sindoor.
The student, a second-year Information Technology undergraduate, had been rusticated by her college and jailed after an FIR was filed at Kondhwa Police Station on May 9. She was arrested the same day and has been held at Yerawada Jail since then.
The incident has sparked public outcry, especially as semester exams began on May 24. The student approached the Bombay High Court seeking reinstatement and permission to sit for her exams.
Court Emphasizes Reform, Not Retaliation
A vacation bench comprising Justices Gauri V. Godse and Somasekhar Sundaresan took a firm stand in favor of the student. The bench said she had already faced consequences for her post and deserved a chance to reform.
"This is an age to make mistakes and rectify. She has already suffered enough. You are treating her like a criminal," the bench observed.
The judges further directed the student's legal counsel to file a separate criminal plea for her release, to ensure she could appear for her remaining exams without police escort.
‘No Show-Cause, No Hearing’: Student Alleges Violation of Rights
Filed through advocate Farhana Shah, the student’s plea argued that the rustication was arbitrary and violated basic principles of natural justice. She claimed the college did not issue a show-cause notice or allow her a chance to present her side.
The plea also highlighted constitutional violations, pointing to infringements of Articles 14 (equality before law), 19(1)(a) (freedom of expression), and 21 (right to life and personal liberty).
College Cites ‘National Interest’; Court Rejects Argument
Sinhgad Academy of Engineering, in its defense, said the action was taken considering “national interest” and to preserve campus harmony. However, the bench strongly dismissed this reasoning.
“What impact will a student’s comment have on national interest? Educational institutions should not behave this way. You want to convert her into a criminal?” Justice Godse said.
When the college’s lawyer claimed that the institution supports its students, the bench asked whether that support included pushing a remorseful student into criminal proceedings.
Exam Under Custody? ‘She Is Not a Criminal’, Says Court
The Additional Government Pleader suggested the student could take her exam under police escort. The bench rejected the idea outright.
“She is not a criminal. She cannot be asked to appear for exams surrounded by police. She must be released,” the court stated.
The bench directed the government counsel to obtain instructions from the police and scheduled a follow-up hearing later in the day.
Background: The Operation Sindoor Controversy
The student's social media post was allegedly related to Operation Sindoor, a high-profile anti-terror campaign recently undertaken in Jammu and Kashmir. The college claimed her post could incite campus disharmony and harm its reputation. However, the student had reportedly re-shared the post without commentary and issued an immediate public apology.
What’s Next
The sessions court is expected to hear her bail plea on Wednesday, May 28. If granted, it could pave the way for her to continue her studies and sit for exams without the burden of criminal proceedings hanging over her.
This case raises critical questions about freedom of speech, overreach by educational institutions, and the balance between discipline and due process in an increasingly polarized environment.