SFI seeks reinstatement of 6 students expelled from Sanjauli college

On the call of State Committee of the Student Federation of India (SFI), various units submitted memorandums to the Education Minister Rohit Thakur and Vice-Chancellor, Himachal Pradesh University, through principals of various colleges across the state. They demanded that the authorities concerned must reinstate six students who were expelled from the Centre of Excellence, Government Post Graduate College, Sanjauli, last year.

Anil Thakur, state president, SFI, said that on September 20, 2024, the college administration, under the influence of the government, illegally expelled six students. While the SFI was protesting against the rising fees and other issues at Sanjauli College, the administration expelled six students to suppress the movement.

“This expulsion case is also being legally contested in the Himachal Pradesh High Court, which granted relief to the students by allowing them to sit for their exams and instructed the university administration to investigate the expulsions. After the High Court’s order, a committee was formed by the Himachal Pradesh University administration, but for the past three months, no positive response has been received, and the investigation has not made any progress. As a result, these six students have been kept away, violating their constitutional right to education,” he said.

Thakur further said that due to this illegal expulsion of the students, they were unable to appear for their final semester exams. “The SFI state committee has demanded that the students be given an additional chance to continue their education,” he added.

The SFI has also warned the university administration of launching a mass movement against them across the state if these students were not immediately reinstated.