In a significant twist, the Gujarat High Court has ordered Gujarat National Law University (GNLU) to immediately reinstate a student who was evicted from the university hostel following his involvement in an anti-ragging complaint. The court’s decision offers temporary relief to Gaurav Meena, the student at the center of the controversy, whose removal from the hostel sparked legal proceedings.
The issue began in September, when Meena filed a complaint through the University Grants Commission (UGC), alleging ragging by another student. The inquiry that followed concluded with a directive requiring the accused student to issue a formal apology. However, when the apology was not forthcoming, Meena escalated the matter by lodging another grievance with the UGC’s E-Samadhan portal.
Responding to UGC’s directive, GNLU summoned Meena to appear before a Student Disciplinary Committee on September 13 to discuss his complaint. Meena requested an alternative time, citing a test scheduled for the same day. Despite attempting to engage with university authorities after his exam, he was not accommodated. Days later, on September 20, the GNLU Registrar issued an order suspending Meena from the hostel for alleged non-cooperation, giving him 24 hours to vacate his room.
Following the eviction, Meena approached the Gujarat High Court, challenging the university’s decision. In its latest order, the court halted the suspension and directed GNLU to immediately restore Meena’s access to his assigned hostel room. The court’s order will remain in effect until further notice, giving the university time to respond to the student’s legal petition.
With the legal dust far from settled, the case underscores the challenges students face in pursuing anti-ragging complaints and the complexities of university procedures when academic commitments overlap with disciplinary inquiries.
