Gujarat High Court lifts hostel suspension of law student by GNLU for alleged misconduct

The Gujarat High Court on Wednesday (October 9) stayed until further orders a September notice issued by the Gujarat National Law University (GNLU) suspending a student from residence halls “with immediate effect”, in connection with an incident of alleged “misconduct”.

The interim order was passed on the petitioner student’s petition challenging the University’s September 20 suspension notice and direction to vacate the hostel accommodation within 24 hours. The suspension was issued following a recommendation from the University’s Student Disciplinary Committee due to Meena’s alleged “non-cooperation” after he invited her to participate in a meeting last month regarding the alleged incident.

Issuance of notification about the student’s allegation to the single court of Justice Aniruddha P Mayee in his order he said: “However, the impugned communication/notice dated 20.9.2024 suspending the petitioner from Residence with immediate effect shall be stayed until further orders. Respondent University No.1 is hereby directed to reinstate the petitioner to the Residential Residences in his designated room with immediate effect on receipt of this order“.

The student – ​​Gaurav Meena, who personally appeared before the court argued that in September 2023 he initiated an anti-ragging complaint with the University Grants Commission (UGC). An inquiry was even conducted and concluded with the direction that “the respondent in the Anti Ragging Complaint should apologize” to the student petitioner, he said.

The petitioner alleged that the UGC order was not complied with and therefore made a communication to the UGC on the ‘E-Samadhan’ portal. In line with this, he said, the UGC, in its communication dated September 10, wrote to the GNLU Registrar to “look into the matter and take necessary action at the earliest” and directly intimidate the petitioner.

The petitioner alleged that the GNLU Student Disciplinary Committee (SDC), through its September 11 communication, issued a “notice” for him to appear in person before the committee on September 13 in connection with an incident of alleged “misconduct ” occurred on July 5.

After receiving the email communication, the petitioner responded immediately on the same day, informing the Commission that he had “continuous assessment tests for different subjects” on September 13, 17 and 20, respectively.

He said he sought some accommodations and also a “clarification” as to whether he would be given a copy of the “misconduct report” against him at the first meeting for the purposes of investigation/interrogation.

“That on 14.9.2024, the petitioner conveyed that he had attempted to meet the competent authority after the testing time on 13.9.2024 but the competent authority refused to meet him and therefore the petitioner requested another date“, notes the order.

“It is the case of the petitioner that subsequently on 20.9.2024, the petitioner received notification from the Registrar of the respondent No.1 University that pending the SDC Inquiry due to non-cooperation of the petitioner, the Student Disciplinary Committee recommended to petitioner’s suspension from the Residences with immediate effect and therefore he was placed under suspension from the Residences with immediate effect and was directed to vacate the hostel accommodation within 24 hours until further orders“, he adds.

The petitioner alleged that according to the communication of September 20th, he vacated the hostel the next day, i.e. September 21st.

Listing the matter on November 25, the high court directed that responses be filed before the next date of hearing.

Case Title: Gaurav Meena v/s Gujarat National Law University through Registrar I/C and Others

Click here to download the order