The Bombay High Court has declined to grant relief to Ramadas K. S., a Dalit PhD student suspended by the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) for alleged anti-national activities, stating that the institute viewed his participation in a protest as damaging to its reputation.

A division bench of Justice A S Chandurkar and Justice M M Sathaye on Wednesday dismissed Ramadas' plea challenging TISS’ April 2024 decision to suspend him for two years.

“The suspension order does not suffer from any illegality or perversity. This is not a fit case for interference. There is no merit in the petition, and it is dismissed,” the court observed.

Ramadas was suspended for allegedly taking part in a protest march in New Delhi against the central government’s "anti-student policies" and for promoting the screening of the documentary Ram Ke Naam during the Ayodhya Ram temple consecration ceremony.

The court, in its order, remarked that it was "clear as sunshine that the march was politically motivated."

It upheld TISS' stance that Ramadas' actions may have created an impression that the protest and the views expressed were endorsed by the institute. The court noted that he participated under the banner of TISS’ student organization, which the institute believed had brought it disrepute.

"Ramadas is entitled to hold and express any political view, but so is the institute. The objection arises when he does so under the institute’s banner," the court stated.

Ramadas, in his plea, contended that his suspension was unlawful, arbitrary, and unfair. He also highlighted that his scholarship had been discontinued as a result, causing financial hardship.

TISS opposed his plea, arguing that he had an alternative remedy and could appeal before an internal committee. Ramadas, however, expressed concerns about receiving an independent and impartial hearing from the institute.