New Delhi: The Delhi high court has ruled that universities cannot clamp down on peaceful protests or student expression simply because those views do not align with the administration’s ideology. Justice Jasmeet Singh made the observation while setting aside disciplinary action taken by Dr B.R. Ambedkar University in Delhi against a student who was accused of taking part in a campus protest.In an order dated March 13, the court allowed the student’s petition challenging two university orders issued in June and August 2025 that had resulted in her expulsion. The court underlined that the punishments were “highly disproportionate” and legally unsustainable, Bar and Bench reported.“The university cannot restrict speech and peaceful expression of ideas, merely because the views expressed by a group of students do not align with the ideology of the management,” the court said in its order, as per a report in the Hindu.The bench stressed that dissent and debate are essential to university life. “A university that accepts only obedience and discourages protests and criticism would fail in its broader educational role. The role of the university is not to suppress every form of dissent, but to ensure that such expression is answered and catered to,” it added, said a report on LiveLaw.The case was related to a dispute linked to allegations of ragging and bullying. The student, enrolled in the Global Studies programme, had claimed she was subjected to severe ragging, bullying and gender-insensitive remarks, which led her to self harm, the New Indian Express reported. She later became involved in complaints and protests around the issue, after which the university suspended her.That suspension had earlier been challenged before the high court. In April 2025, the court allowed her to attend classes but barred her from participating in protests related to the matter while the inquiry was ongoing.The university later accused her of joining a campus-wide boycott organised by a student group and issued a show-cause notice in May 2025, alleging violation of both the court’s direction and campus disciplinary rules. The student maintained that she had not participated in any protest and was only near the site to meet a friend when security personnel photographed her.Despite her explanation, the university proceeded with disciplinary action and eventually expelled her for allegedly joining a sit-in protest. She then moved the high court to challenge the orders.While hearing the case, the court highlighted the role of universities as spaces for intellectual engagement.“A university is not a place where students just attend classes and complete courses. It is also a space where students are expected to learn and inculcate independent thought processes, ability to ask questions and engage in critical thinking. It reflects the very spirit of freedom to engage in discourse and discussions that a university is expected to encourage,” it observed, as per Bar and Bench.The court also rejected the university’s claim that it could punish the student for violating an earlier court order. The bench clarified that only the court itself has the authority to act on such violations. Further, it noted that there was no evidence to suggest that the alleged protest had disrupted academic functioning or affected other students.Taking into account that the student had already lost a year due to the proceedings, it directed the university to allow her to resume studies from the third semester beginning July 2026.