‘Students, not anti-nationals’: Bombay HC backs Pune protesters’ right to protest

The Bombay High Court ruled in favor of Pune protesters demanding greater transparency in MPSC exams, stating that students have the right to protest if they believe there are issues with the recruitment process. The court encouraged the government to restore the students' trust, while urging them to return to their studies. The bench emphasized that the protesters are not "anti-nationals."

The court directed the government to submit an affidavit within three weeks outlining the breakdown of nearly 70,000 job vacancies by department and reservation. The protesters, led by Amit Supekar, have been demonstrating at three locations in Pune despite not receiving police permission. The disturbances are part of a series of similar protests over examination irregularities that led to the resignation of the former Union Education Minister, Dharmendra Pradhan, in July.

The court noted that most students in Pune are genuinely interested in their education and warned that protracted protests could negatively impact students' career prospects. The bench stressed the importance of fair and impartial examinations, urging the students to withdraw their road blockades and obtain proper permission from authorities before continuing their protests.