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Writ Petition filed in HC against SPPU’s new eight-day protest notice rule

SPPU’s circular also referred to a previous judgement by the Aurangabad bench of the Bombay High Court.

This judgement upheld a circular by the Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, saying that the University’s permission for any meetings or sit-ins was required.

A writ petition has been filed at the Aurangabad bench of the Bombay High Court on Saturday to quash and set aside Savitribai Phule Pune University’s eight-day protest notice rule. Law student from ILS College Avinash Solunke and president of the media department of the Maharashtra Youth Congress Akshay Jain have filed the petition with SPPU through its registrar and State of Maharashtra.

As reported by The Indian Express, Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) issued a circular on December 30 declaring that permission for meetings, sit-ins, protests, or similar programmes must be obtained from the university administration at least eight days in advance. This move was opposed by the National Students’ Union of India, the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, and the University Student Struggle Action Committee.

The petition says, “…students have the right to peacefully protest, as it is a fundamental part of democratic engagement. The respondent University’s impugned circular limits this right by requiring prior permission, which could be seen as an infringement on the ability to respond quickly to urgent issues. For instance, a sudden crisis or a pressing issue, such as policy changes, discrimination, or university mismanagement, may require immediate action that cannot wait for 8 days’ approval from the respondent university.”

SPPU’s circular also referred to a previous judgement by the Aurangabad bench of the Bombay High Court. This judgement upheld a circular by the Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, saying that the University’s permission for any meetings or sit-ins was required. Countering this, the current petition says, “the High Court of Judicature at Bombay Bench at Aurangabad has nowhere described the 8 days’ prior permission as necessary and compulsory for organizing any agitation, rallies, and peaceful protest by the students…the respondent university has wrongly interpreted the order of the High Court of Judicature at Bombay Bench at Aurangabad while imposing the said 8 days’ prior permission. “

Jain explained his reason behind filing the petition by saying, “This decision (by the University) directly attacks the rights of students to express themselves. The rule requiring permission eight days in advance for protests is an attempt to suppress the voices of students. We strongly oppose this unjust decision and have approached the judiciary to seek its repeal.”

Soham Shah

Soham Shah is a Correspondent with The Indian Express, based in Pune. A journalism graduate with a background in fact-checking, he brings a meticulous and research-oriented approach to his current reporting. Professional Background Role: Correspondent coverig education and city affairs in Pune. Specialization: His primary beat is education, but he also maintains a strong focus on civic issues, public health, human rights, and state politics. Key Strength: Soham focuses on data-driven reporting on school and college education, government reports, and public infrastructure. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) His late 2025 work highlights a transition from education-centric reporting to hard-hitting investigative and human-rights stories: 1. Investigations & Governance "Express Impact: Mother's name now a must to download birth certificate from PMC site" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on a significant policy change by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) following his earlier reports on gender inclusivity in administrative documents. "44-Acre Mahar Land Controversy: In June, Pune official sought land eviction at Pawar son firm behest" (Nov 9, 2025): An investigative piece on real estate irregularities involving high-profile political families. 2. Education & Campus Life Faculty crisis at SPPU hits research, admin work: 62% of govt-sanctioned posts vacant, over 75% in many depts (Sept 12, 2025): An investigative piece on professor vacancies at Savitribai Phule Pune University. "Maharashtra’s controversial third language policy: Why National Curriculum Framework recommends a third language from Class 6" (July 2): This detailed piece unpacks reasons behind why the state's move to introduce a third language from class 1 was controversial. "Decline in number of schools, teachers in Maharashtra but student enrolment up: Report" (Jan 2025): Analyzing discrepancies in the state's education data despite rising student numbers. 3. Human Rights & Social Issues "Aanchal Mamidawar was brave after her family killed her boyfriend" (Dec 17, 2025): A deeply personal and hard-hitting opinion piece/column on the "crime of love" and honor killings in modern India. "'People disrespect the disabled': Meet the man who has become face of racist attacks on Indians" (Nov 29, 2025): A profile of a Pune resident with severe physical deformities who became the target of global online harassment, highlighting issues of disability and cyber-bullying. Signature Style Soham is known for his civil-liberties lens. His reporting frequently champions the rights of the marginalized—whether it's students fighting for campus democracy, victims of regressive social practices, or residents struggling with crumbling urban infrastructure (as seen in his "Breathless Pune" contributions). He is adept at linking hyper-local Pune issues to larger national conversations about law and liberty. X (Twitter): @SohamShah07 ... Read More

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