Allahabad HC Refuses Judicial Probe Into ‘Police Brutality’ On SRMU Law Students

Last Updated:September 17, 2025, 20:04 IST

The court, however, made it clear that its order should not be understood as condoning any illegal act by the authorities or the university

The court dismissed the PIL, refusing to constitute a judicial commission or order criminal proceedings against the police. File pic

The Allahabad High Court’s Lucknow bench has dismissed a public interest petition seeking sweeping directions, including a judicial inquiry into alleged police brutality on law students of Shree Ramswaroop Memorial University in Barabanki.

The petition, filed by advocate Ashish Kumar Singh, had demanded an independent probe led by a retired High Court judge, prosecution of police officers, a bar on unrecognised law colleges, and state-mandated medical and psychological care for injured students. The allegations included shocking claims of male police officers assaulting women students during protests.

A bench of Justice Rajan Roy and Justice Manjive Shukla, however, made it clear that those directly affected by the alleged incident had not sought judicial intervention. “The aggrieved persons can approach the Court or seek such other remedies as may be permissible under law," the order recorded.

On the issue of the university’s recognition, the court pointed out that another PIL (No. 958/2025) was already before it. That petition challenges the recognition granted to Ramswaroop University by the Bar Council of India (BCI).

The BCI, through a September 3, 2025, order, had extended provisional approval for the 2025-26 academic session and regularised admissions for the previous two years, subject to compliance with regulations.

The court further noted that injured students were already admitted at King George’s Medical University (KGMU), which was not made a party to the case, preventing the bench from issuing specific directions regarding their treatment.

It was also informed that the state had lodged a criminal case against the private university, which was already under judicial scrutiny in connected proceedings.

Ultimately, the court dismissed the PIL, refusing to constitute a judicial commission or order criminal proceedings against the police.

However, the judges were careful to clarify that the dismissal did not amount to condoning any unlawful act by the authorities or the university. They emphasised that the order would not affect pending or future proceedings concerning the same allegations.

“This order, however, should not be understood as condoning any illegal act of any of the opposite parties or the private University nor will it affect any other proceeding which may be pending or may be initiated herein-after in respect to the aforesaid subject matter, as per law," the court stated.

Salil Tiwari

Salil Tiwari, Senior Special Correspondent at Lawbeat, reports on the Allahabad High Court and courts in Uttar Pradesh, however, she also writes on important cases of national importance and public interests fr...Read More

Salil Tiwari, Senior Special Correspondent at Lawbeat, reports on the Allahabad High Court and courts in Uttar Pradesh, however, she also writes on important cases of national importance and public interests fr...

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