Advocates, civil society slam alleged intimidation of Muslim students at Kalyan college

A group of lawyers, non-governmental organizations and political representatives have condemned the alleged humiliation of Muslim students for giving a brief presentation at the Ideal Department of Arts, Science, Commerce and Pharmacy in Kalyan on November 21. prayer (prayer) in a classroom.

In the letter sent to the university principal, it was stated that videos circulating on the internet showed students being forced to cover their ears and apologize in front of the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

According to the legal notice published on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, members of Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad illegally entered the campus and confronted the students, turning the internal issue into a public demonstration.

In a statement signed by lawyer Faiyaz Alam Shaikh, practicing in the Bombay High Court, lawyer Ateeque Ahmed Khan, General Secretary of AIMIM Maharashtra, and lawyer Nafees Khan, he 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 organizations like Govandi New Sangam Welfare Association and Govandi Citizen Welfare Forum.

The demands include a thorough investigation to identify all outsiders, accountability for security breaches, and a written assurance that no students will be subjected to humiliation or forced religious acts in the future. The legal notice also called for preventive measures such as stricter door entry protocols and preservation of CCTV footage.

Lawyer Faiyaz Alam Shaikh said: “Forcing students to publicly apologize, grab their ears, or touch the feet of a religious or cultural statue against their free will violates their human dignity, emotional security, freedom of conscience and personal freedom.”

Lawyer Ateeque Ahmed Khan added: “Turning a domestic matter into a public religious matter creates fear, emotional distress and potential social tension, undermining the institution’s duty to provide a safe and discrimination-free environment.”

The legal notice also stated that any disciplinary action regarding violations of internal rules can only be taken by authorized university officials. “No private organization or external group has the legal authority to enter facilities or discipline students.”

It also warned of escalation of the legal process: “If the above demands are not met within seven days, the undersigned will proceed to approach the Hon’ble Bombay High Court through a writ petition.”

The signatories also stated that they would 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 maintain harmony and reject attempts to inject communal hatred into academic spaces.