The Supreme Court on Friday upheld the suspension of Dalit PhD scholar Ramadas KS by the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) over alleged misconduct and anti-national activities but reduced the suspension period to the duration already undergone.
A bench comprising Justices Dipankar Datta and Manmohan observed that although the disciplinary action taken by TISS was legally valid and supported by documentary evidence, the interest of justice would be served by allowing the scholar to resume his academic pursuits.
Ramadas, who was pursuing a PhD in Development Studies, was suspended by an empowered committee of TISS on April 17, 2024, for a period of two years and barred from entering any of the institute’s campuses. The disciplinary action stemmed from his alleged involvement in a protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar and the screening of a documentary film on the Ayodhya dispute, which the institute claimed violated its honour code and rules.
TISS alleged that Ramadas, despite receiving a Central government-funded fellowship for scheduled caste students, had engaged in “politically motivated protests” that breached the institute’s code of conduct.
Senior advocate S Muralidhar, appearing for Ramadas, challenged the disciplinary action, but the Bombay High Court dismissed his plea on March 12, 2024. The High Court found no procedural or legal flaw in the committee’s findings and called the action “proportionate.”
“The impugned report and consequent action of suspension are based on material available on record and it is proportionate… There is no merit in the petition and the same is dismissed,” the High Court had ruled.
Appearing for TISS before the Supreme Court, advocate Rajeev Kumar Panday defended the institute’s stance and emphasized that the empowered committee had acted after due consideration of Ramadas’ alleged misconduct.
However, the apex court, while affirming the legality of the suspension, acknowledged Ramadas’ academic progress and the significance of his doctoral studies, choosing to reduce the suspension period to the time already served. The court did not quash the suspension order but allowed the scholar to complete his PhD.
Ramadas had first joined TISS in 2015 for a Master’s degree in Media and Cultural Studies and was awarded a scholarship by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. In 2018, he commenced his MPhil-PhD programme in Development Studies and earned his MPhil in 2021. He was later awarded a national fellowship in 2023 after clearing the UGC-NET examination.
The Supreme Court’s decision marks a critical point in the long-standing academic and legal dispute, allowing the scholar a path forward while upholding the disciplinary framework of the institution.
