IIM-Ahmedabad Appeals Against High Court Order on Student Expulsion

Background

The Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIM-A) has approached the Gujarat High Court challenging a single judge’s order that quashed the expulsion of three students enrolled in its Doctoral Programme in Management (DPM).

The single judge had earlier ruled that the institute’s action was not in line with the procedure prescribed in the programme manual, thereby reinstating the students.

IIM-A’s Appeal

• IIM-A contends that the expulsion was justified and carried out in accordance with institutional rules.

• The institute argues that the single judge erred in holding that the disciplinary action violated the programme manual.

• The appeal seeks to overturn the earlier order and uphold the expulsion decision.

Court Proceedings

• The matter is now before a division bench of the Gujarat High Court.

• The appeal raises questions about the autonomy of premier educational institutions in enforcing discipline versus judicial scrutiny of procedural compliance.

Key Issue

The central issue revolves around whether IIM-A followed the due process outlined in its programme manual when expelling the students, or whether the expulsion was arbitrary and therefore invalid.

Significance

• The case highlights the tension between institutional autonomy and judicial oversight in higher education.

• It could set an important precedent for how disciplinary actions in elite academic institutions are reviewed by courts.