A group of practicing advocates, civil society organisations, and political representatives have condemned the November 21 incident at Ideal College of Arts, Science & Commerce and Pharmacy Department in Kalyan, where Muslim students were allegedly humiliated for offering a brief namaz (prayer) inside a classroom.
The letter addressed to the principal of the college said that the videos circulating online show the students being compelled to hold their ears and apologise before a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
According to the legal notice issued on Tuesday (November 25, 2025), members of Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad unlawfully entered the campus and confronted the students, turning an internal matter into a public spectacle.
The notice, signed by advocate Faiyaz Alam Shaikh, a practicing advocate at the Bombay High Court, along with advocate Ateeque Ahmed Khan, General Secretary of AIMIM Maharashtra, and advocate Nafees Khan, called the incident “a direct violation of constitutional rights and an attack on religious freedom.”
Other signatories include Engineer Tanveer Usmani, Dr. Kashif, Ashna Shaikh (law student and teacher), and organisations such as Govandi New Sangam Welfare Society and Govandi Citizens Welfare Forum.
The demands include a full inquiry to identify all external persons, accountability for security lapses, and a written assurance that no student will be subjected to humiliation or forced religious gestures in the future. The legal notice also called for preventive measures such as stricter gate-entry protocols and preservation of CCTV footage.
Advocate Faiyaz Alam Shaikh said, “Compelling students to apologise publicly, hold their ears, or touch the feet of a religious or cultural statue against their free will violates their human dignity, emotional safety, freedom of conscience, and personal liberty.”
Advocate Ateeque Ahmed Khan added, “Turning an internal matter into a public religious issue creates fear, emotional distress, and potential communal tension, undermining the institution’s duty to provide a safe and discrimination-free environment.”
The legal notice further stated that any disciplinary action for internal rule violations can only be taken by authorised college authorities. “No private organisation or external group has any lawful authority to enter the premises or discipline students.”
It also warned of legal escalation, “If the above demands are not addressed within seven days, the undersigned will proceed to approach the Hon’ble Bombay High Court through a writ petition.”
The signatories have also indicated they will approach the Maharashtra State Minority Commission and the National Human Rights Commission if corrective action is not taken.
Civil society groups have urged students to uphold harmony and reject attempts to inject communal hatred into academic spaces.
Published – November 26, 2025 04:48 am IST
