SC Reinstates Dalit PhD Scholar Suspended by TISS for ‘Anti-National Activities'

Ramadas tells us about his hard-fought legal battle and how he spent the last year after being suspended by TISS.

Ramadas speaks to The Quint about his hard-fought legal battle and how it cost him a full academic year, where not only his doctoral studies suffered but he also faced cyber-bullying.

(Image: The Quint/@Vibhushita Singh)

“It’s a relief, there’s no doubt about it. I am happy that I am going back to my studies,” Ramadas Prini Sivanandan told The Quint after the Supreme Court on Friday, 2 May revoked his suspension, allowing him to continue pursuing his PhD at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai. 

The 31-year-old Dalit PhD scholar was suspended by TISS Mumbai on 18 April 2024 for two years for his “repetitive misconduct and anti-national activities.” The move had invited sharp criticism from student organisations as well as political parties across India. 

Two days after his suspension, in a public statement, TISS had accused Ramadas of “posting pamphlets on social media for an unauthorised screening of controversial documentary Ram Ke Naam” during the January 2024 Ram Mandir consecration in Ayodhya. The central university also accused him of misusing the name of TISS during a Parliament march in January 2024.

However, when the Supreme Court asked for evidence of these allegations, TISS could not provide any photos, screenshots or videos of the alleged misuse of the university's name at the said protest march, The Quint has learnt. Consequently, without examining claims and counter claims on merit, the top court ordered to revoke his suspension immediately.

Ramadas speaks to The Quint about his hard-fought legal battle and how it cost him a full academic year, where not only his doctoral studies suffered but he also allegedly faced cyber-bullying: 

'No Screening of 'Ram Ke Naam' Happened in January 2024'

“I didn’t get everything I wanted but I sincerely respect the top court’s order,” Ramadas said.  

Hailing from Wayanad in Kerala, Ramadas belongs to the Dalit community. Before he was suspended, Ramadas was the Central Executive Committee member of the Student Federation of India (SFI), which is linked to the Communist Party of India (Marxist). He was also a member of the Progressive Students’ Forum (PSF), a student body at TISS.  

In the show-cause notice issued to him on 7 March 2024, the university accused him of posting pamphlets on social media to join the screening of Ram Ke Naam on 26 January at 7pm “as a mark of dishonour and protest against the Ram Mandir inauguration in Ayodhya.” 

The 1992 documentary film, directed by Anand Patwardhan, won a National Award for ‘Best Investigative Film’ in 1993 and is available on YouTube. It portrays right-wing organisations’ campaign to demolish the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya and the communal violence it triggered.  

When asked about the allegations levelled against him, Ramadas sought to clarify certain things: 

“First of all, no screening of the film Ram Ke Naam happened on the campus on 26 January 2024 at 7pm. It was neither organised by me nor by any other student or student organisation. In fact, I was admitted to the hospital at the time as I had met with a road accident on 16 January 2024 and had to undergo a major surgery the very next day.”  

While revoking Ramadas’ suspension, the Supreme Court had struck down the Bombay High Court judgment of 12 March 2025, which had adjudicated that his punishment was "not disproportionate."

'Participated in Parliament March in Personal Capacity'

While accusing him of “repeatedly engaging in unlawful activities during protests, including the Parliamentary march,” the university had banned Ramadas for two years from all campuses of TISS, including Mumbai, Tuljapur, Hyderabad and Guwahati. Ramadas challenged this decision by filing a writ petition in the Bombay High Court on 2 May 2024. 

In the 7 March show-cause notice, the university had accused Ramadas of “wrongfully creating an impression” that the Progressive Students' Forum (PSF) is associated with TISS and that “its views are endorsed by TISS,” during his participation in a demonstration outside the Parliament in New Delhi on 12 January 2024.

To this, Ramadas submitted in the Bombay High Court that he had participated in the said demonstration at a personal level and never claimed to represent the whole institute or the official student union.

He said that issues related to the National Education Policy, NEET, employment guarantee, fee hike, etc. were raised there by at least 16 student organisations. Besides, prior permission was taken from the Delhi Police to hold the protest. Ramadas maintained that not only is it his constitutional right to participate in a lawful assembly, but it is also in national interest to speak for the right to education.  

However, relying on TISS' submissions, the High Court observed, “From the admitted pamphlet of the ‘Parliament-March’ it can be seen that it mentioned ‘Save India, Reject BJP’...It is therefore clear as sunshine that the said march was politically motivated, which the Petitioner participated in under the banner PSF-TISS in a student group." It was on these grounds, that the high court had upheld Ramadas’ suspension.  

'Enjoying Govt Grants For Partaking in Politically-Motivated Protests': TISS to HC

Having excelled in the UGC-NET entrance exam, Ramadas was awarded the National Fellowship for Scheduled Caste (NFSC) students in February 2023. NFSC is a central sector scheme introduced by the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment to provide financial assistance to students belonging to SC communities so that they can pursue higher studies. 

He had earlier told The Quint that if he was suspended, his fellowship and in-turn, his academic career could be in jeopardy. As per the scheme, if a student is not academically active, he/she is not eligible for the scholarship, but the final decision rests with the university. 

During the hearing in the high court, TISS submitted:

"While enjoying such government grants meant for pursuing studies, Ramadas has participated in politically motivated protests, using the name of the Institute, which is clearly breach of applicable rules. The pamphlet of the Parliament March says, ‘Save India, Reject BJP,’ and therefore, it was obviously a march which was politically motivated." 

However, Ramadas told The Quint that he did receive his fellowship for some months, courtesy interim orders passed by the High Court. “I faced uncertainty after the high court judgment. But I am expecting some relief after the Supreme Court order.”

'Went to Court 3-4 Times a Month for the Last One Year'

“My case was brought before the attention of the high court 35 times, and there were 14 hearings. I was going to court three-to-four times a month,” Ramadas said. 

He added that apart from being financially draining, the process was physically tedious too.  

“My doctoral work has certainly suffered. In the last one year and 15 days, I have been on campus two times for 15 minutes each only to renew my fellowship—both times accompanied by security guards,” Ramadas told The Quint. 

He alleged that he faced a lot of cyber-bullying in the last one year.

“I was called an 'anti-national'. And not by one or two handles, but by thousands of people. Someone even called the hospital where I was admitted after my bike accident and asked the staff not to treat me. Fortunately, by then I had moved out of Mumbai and chosen another place for my treatment,” Ramadas claimed.  

He said that he moved back to his hometown to recuperate for some time.

“During that time, PSF officially came out in my support, many other civil society groups also extended their solidarity. They fought with me for an entire year. My lawyers fought for me pro bono. It means a lot,” he added. 

Ramadas maintains that fighting for the right to education is “not an anti-national act.” 

“I believe it to be one of the most patriotic acts,” he said, reiterating and re-affirming his stand. He said he was happy that the Supreme Court did not state that his position was wrong.  

Ramadas said that the day the decision came out, students were rejoicing and distributing sweets. He hoped for normalcy to return: 

“I am the first graduate in my family. Both my parents are primary school dropouts. Today is going to be my first day on campus as a PhD student after one year and 15 days. Let’s see how my university treats me.”