Major Win for Students: MGAHV Reverses Suspensions After 2-Year Legal Battle in Bombay High Court

Wardha- The long-standing case of illegal expulsion and suspension faced by students who raised their voices against administrative corruption and irregularities at Mahatma Gandhi International Hindi University (MGAHV), Wardha, for the past two years has finally been resolved following the intervention of the Bombay High Court, Nagpur Bench. This is being regarded as a major victory for the student movement. Following the directives of the Hon’ble High Court, the university administration was compelled to withdraw the expulsion and suspension of the students, which is being seen as a significant judicial relief for the affected students.

At this central university in Wardha, serious allegations of administrative mismanagement, corruption, and harassment of students have repeatedly emerged over the past few years. In 2024, the illegal expulsion of five students brought the university into the center of national-level controversy. This case was not limited to administrative failure alone; it also highlighted serious concerns of institutional discrimination against Dalit–Bahujan students.

On 27 January 2024, the university administration illegally expelled/suspended Dr. Rajnish Kumar Ambedkar (Diploma), Ramchandra (Research Scholar), Rajesh Kumar Yadav (Research Scholar), Niranjan Kumar (Research Scholar), and Vivek Mishra (Undergraduate Student) without any formal inquiry process and without giving them an opportunity to be heard. This action was taken on the basis of student protests against the alleged illegal appointment of then Acting Vice-Chancellor Bhimrao Maitri during his Republic Day address and the sharing of related reports on social media. The decision, made within just a few hours, was a clear violation of the principles of natural justice.

In the same matter, the High Court, acting on the petition filed by Prof. Karunyakara, declared the appointment of Acting Vice-Chancellor Bhimrao Maitri illegal and annulled his appointment. Against this illegal expulsion and suspension, students Niranjan Kumar and Vivek Mishra immediately filed a petition before the Bombay High Court, Nagpur Bench, from where they received relief. However, the other two students, Rajesh Kumar Yadav and Ramchandra, despite being in identical circumstances, were not granted any relief. These students submitted written complaints from the President’s Secretariat to the Ministry of Education and other relevant departments, seeking justice, but no effective action was taken for several months.

Due to financial constraints, Rajesh Kumar Yadav and Ramchandra could not approach the court immediately. Eventually, in November 2024, they filed a petition before the High Court, Nagpur, through Advocate Nihal Singh Rathore. The hearings in this matter continued for nearly one year. On Friday, 19 December 2025, the Hon’ble High Court strongly reprimanded the university administration and clearly stated that if the illegal expulsion and suspension were not withdrawn, the court would issue formal orders. Subsequently, during the hearing held on Monday, the university administration filed an affidavit withdrawing the expulsion and suspension of both students. On 22 December 2025, the High Court issued the order based on this affidavit.

This case is part of a series of ongoing controversies within the university. In 2023, serious allegations of sexual harassment of a female faculty member and major irregularities in faculty appointments were made against the then Vice-Chancellor Rajnish Shukla, forcing him to vacate his office before completing his tenure. Subsequently, Bhimrao Maitri was illegally appointed as Acting Vice-Chancellor. Senior Dalit professor Laila Karunyakara filed a petition in the High Court challenging this appointment, which was declared illegal. In response to this petition, the university administration allegedly framed false charges against Prof. Karunyakara and suspended him; he has remained under suspension for nearly two years. This situation reflects the administration’s intolerant attitude towards criticism and judicial review.

The university has a long history of administrative irregularities. These include expelling students without hearings, violating natural justice to suppress dissent, allegations of sexual exploitation of a female faculty member and fraudulent faculty appointments by former Vice-Chancellor Rajnish Shukla, failure to take concrete action despite serious financial irregularities against former Registrar Dharvesh Katheria, and persistent delays in PhD admission processes. Although the 2022 PhD admission process was completed, results have not been declared, leaving over 50 students’ futures uncertain. Moreover, admission processes for 2023, 2024, and 2025 have not even commenced.

Expelled student Rajesh Kumar Yadav stated, “This case is not limited to expulsion alone; it is part of a systematic attempt to suppress the voices of Dalit–Bahujan students. The High Court declaring the expulsion and suspension illegal proves that the university administration violated students’ constitutional rights. The mental, social, and academic consequences endured over two years cannot be fully compensated. Nevertheless, our struggle against this injustice will continue. We demand an independent investigation, under the supervision of a retired judge, into all alleged fraudulent faculty appointments made between 2019 and 2023. This investigation should be completed within a fixed timeline and the report made public. Legal action should be taken against those found guilty, and the role of the then Acting Executive Registrar Qadir Nawaz must also be examined.”

Research scholar Ramchandra added, “The university has now become a stronghold of administrative corruption and authoritarianism. Academic activities have been severely affected, and both students and teachers are dissatisfied. We will not be intimidated by the university administration’s authoritarianism. We will continue our struggle to create democratic space on campus and fight for the interests of students with even greater determination.”