A Mumbai sessions judge on Monday told nine students of the Tata Institute of Social Sciences that their careers were “ruined” after being booked in October for allegedly taking part in an event commemorating the death anniversary of former Delhi University professor GN Saibaba, reported The Indian Express.
“You have a criminal record,” the newspaper quoted Additional Sessions Judge Manoj B Oza as saying. “Now your record is with the police – not just here but everywhere in the country.”
Oza told the students that they had “made a blunder so early”, before their careers had even started.
Saibaba, who had over 90% disability and used a wheelchair, spent over seven years in jail on accusations of having links with Maoists. In March 2024, he was acquitted by the Bombay High Court and released. Seven months later, on October 12, he died of post-operative complications in Hyderabad.
A year later, some TISS students gathered on campus to light candles and display posters of Saibaba to commemorate his death anniversary.
However, a few students reportedly associated with a group named the Democratic Secular Students Forum allegedly disrupted the gathering by tearing down some posters.
A student who did not wish to be identified had told Scroll that members of the group also clicked photographs of the students participating in the event.
The police had filed the case against the students who attended the event based on a complaint by the TISS administration. The first information report invoked charges of causing prejudice to the nation, causing enmity between various groups and participating in unlawful assembly, among others.
While hearing their anticipatory bail applications on Monday, the judge asked the students how many of them were not residents of Maharashtra, reported The Indian Express.
“You came to study in Maharashtra for all this?” said the judge. “Your fathers know about the case? How many of your fathers are in government jobs? You will not get government jobs because of the case.”
Oza said that they would have to disclose their pending criminal charges even if they choose to take up private employment. He then asked their lawyer what course the students were pursuing.
When he was told that they were enrolled in a Master’s in Social Work programme, the judge said their degrees would not help them secure employment, reported The Times of India.
“You think you are scientists or engineers,” he was quoted as saying. “Even engineers do not have jobs.”
He extended their protection from arrest till February 5, when arguments of the students’ pleas are likely to be presented.
In the FIR against the students, the police had also alleged that they shouted slogans in support of activists Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam, who have been in jail for more than five years on account of having taken part in an alleged conspiracy behind the 2020 Delhi violence.
However, one of the students who was part of the gathering had told Scroll that no slogans were shouted at the event.
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