The Allahabad High Court has overturned a unique punishment handed to a student of Noida International University. A Division Bench led by Chief Justice Arun Bhansali set aside the earlier order that required the student to stand at the campus gate with a placard. The court observed that forcing a student to display a self-incriminating sign was unjustified and would cause a permanent scar on his mind and future career.
Why the Court Removed the Order
The issue started when a single judge ordered Harsh Awana, a BSc student, to stand at the university gate for 30 days. He was told to hold a placard promising never to misbehave with girls. The Division Bench, comprising Chief Justice Arun Bhansali and Justice Kshitij Shailendra, reviewed this decision. They stated that while disciplinary action is necessary for misconduct, public shaming is not an appropriate method. The judges felt this specific condition was too harsh and humiliating for a young student.
Conditions That Remain in Effect
Even though the placard punishment was removed, the court kept other strict conditions to ensure discipline. The student must follow these rules to continue his education at the university.
- Written Apology: The student must submit a notarized written apology within 72 hours.
- Attendance Rule: He is required to maintain 95% attendance in his remaining classes.
- Campus Movement: Leaving the university premises during class hours is strictly prohibited.
- Monitoring: An police ‘anti-Romeo squad’ will be deployed at the gate to monitor conduct.
