Political parties and social organisations have widely welcomed the verdict of the High Court of Sikkim setting aside the expulsions of four students of Sikkim Government College, Gyalshing, and assailed the state government for allegedly backing the decision of the college authorities.

The Students Front of the opposition Sikkim Democratic Front said the quashing of the expulsions was a historic judgement of the high court and a blot on the Sikkim Krantikari Morcha government that had refused to heed the call of the people to revoke the unjustified expulsions.

“The court intervening to give justice to the expelled students is a history in itself. The blotch will forever remain on the SKM government and the expulsions will forever be a reference point of an anti-education party leading a government,” said Ram Gurung, executive member of the Student Front.

Congratulating the four undergraduate students, Praveen Basnet, Pravin Sharma, Lok Nath Chettri and Nakul Sharma, on their victory, Gurung said they had not only won the battle for themselves but also for the rights of all students in Sikkim.

The high court had on Tuesday set aside the ouster of the students for participating in a dharna and other alleged acts of indiscipline on grounds of violation of principles of natural justice by the college authorities since they had neither showcaused the students nor provided proof to the court to establish the allegations.

Hailing the court’s decision, the Sikkimey Nagarik Samaj said the ruling had brought great relief not just to the four students but to the entire law-abiding citizens of the state. “We congratulate the students for their victory and extend our sincere gratitude to all the individuals and organisations who stood by the students and supported them,” said Passang Sherpa, the general secretary of the Samaj.

Barring the ruling SKM, majority of political parties and social organisations had come out in support of the students after they were expelled. “We had all along said the expulsions of the students went against natural justice. The verdict vindicates our position. We are happy for the students because justice has been done to them,” said Shankar Sharma, a member of the Sikkim Progressive Youth Forum.