2023 student protests: Allahabad High Court restores AISA leader’s FIR plea

In a recent ruling, the Allahabad High Court has overturned a previous decision that had dismissed a plea by All-India Students Association (AISA) leader Vivek Kumar to register a First Information Report (FIR) against former Allahabad University Chief Proctor Rakesh Singh. The court ruled that the earlier special judge had made an "error of law" by failing to provide a reasoned and well-structured order in dismissing the complaint.

Vivek Kumar, a member of the Scheduled Caste community, was participating in a peaceful protest on October 17, 2023, near the University of Allahabad, demanding the opening of the library, reinstatement of suspended students, and better sanitation facilities. During the protest, Singh allegedly used caste-based slurs against Kumar and assaulted him with a wooden stick, causing injuries. Despite reporting the incident to the police and higher authorities, Kumar did not receive an FIR.

The Allahabad High Court highlighted the importance of a "reasoned and speaking order" in judicial proceedings, stating that the earlier court's decision was arbitrary and lacked due consideration of the facts and allegations presented by Kumar. The court has now directed the matter to be re-examined and ruled that the public servants involved may be held accountable if they failed to fulfill their statutory duties.