Bombay High Court Overturns Suspension of IIM-Nagpur Student
The Bombay High Court has annulled the suspension of an MBA student from IIM-Nagpur, citing violations of natural justice.
The court ruled that the student was not given a fair chance to defend himself.
IIM-Nagpur must allow the student to return to classes and hostel.
A new inquiry will be conducted by the Student Activity Committee.
The Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court has overturned the suspension of Prayas Thakur, an MBA student at IIM-Nagpur, due to procedural irregularities in the disciplinary process. The court found that Thakur was not afforded a fair opportunity to present his defense regarding the alleged discovery of a banned substance in his hostel room.
Thakur, a second-year student in the 2025-27 batch, maintained a strong academic record prior to the incident. The controversy arose on August 30, 2026, when IIM officials conducted a search of his shared hostel room while he was in class. During this search, a banned substance was reportedly found beneath his pillow, but Thakur argued that the authorities failed to provide details about the substance, including its nature or quantity, and did not present any laboratory analysis to substantiate their claims.
In his petition, Thakur emphasized that the search occurred in his absence and without a student representative present. He contended that he was not given a proper opportunity to explain his situation to the Student Activity Committee or during the appeals process. Initially expelled from the program, his punishment was later reduced to suspension for terms 5 and 6 of the academic year 2026-27.
During the court proceedings, Advocate Radhika Bajaj, representing Thakur, argued that the institute had not adhered to fair procedural standards. Although IIM's counsel, Harish Thakur, defended the previous decisions, he acknowledged the necessity for a new inquiry that would allow the student to present his case adequately. The court agreed, noting that the lack of a proper hearing constituted a violation of natural justice.
As a result of the ruling, the High Court has mandated that the Chairperson of the Student Activity Committee conduct a fresh inquiry and issue a reasoned decision within four weeks. In the interim, IIM-Nagpur is required to permit Thakur to attend classes and reside in the hostel, ensuring that he can continue his education while the matter is resolved.
