A 19-year-old engineering student from Pune, arrested for a social media post concerning the India-Pakistan conflict, has been granted immediate bail by the Mumbai High Court, enabling her to attend her ongoing college examinations. Justices Gauri Godse and Somasekhar Sundaresan, presiding over the vacation bench, vehemently criticized the state, questioning, “What is this? Are you ruining a student’s life? What kind of conduct is this? Someone expresses something, and you want to ruin a student’s life? How can you throw her out? Did you seek an explanation?” The court lambasted the government for treating the student “like a hardcore criminal,” calling it “absolutely shameful.” The bench ordered her immediate release on bail, emphasizing that her arrest was unwarranted given her prompt deletion of the post, expression of remorse, and apology.

During the hearing of her plea, the court sternly rebuked both the Maharashtra Police and the college administration for arresting and expelling the student, stating her freedom had been unjustly curtailed. Her lawyer, Farhana Shah, had urgently appealed for a hearing on Monday, highlighting the ongoing semester examinations. When the college’s lawyer suggested she could take exams with a police escort, the court vehemently rejected the argument, asserting, “She is not a criminal.” The court further questioned the very purpose of an academic institution, asking, “Is its purpose only to educate academically? Do you need to reform a student or make them a criminal? We understand you want to take some action, but you cannot stop her from taking exams. Let her give the remaining three papers.” The court’s strong stance underscores the importance of balancing public order with individual liberties, particularly in cases involving young students.