The Supreme Court on Monday granted bail to Joynal Abedin, a college professor accused of sharing pro-Pakistan and sexually explicit content on social media, but made it clear that the relief will not pave the way for the revocation of his suspension and return to teaching.
A Bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi noted that Abedin has already spent six months in custody and that the trial, in which four prosecution witnesses are yet to be examined, is unlikely to conclude soon. “Taking into consideration all such factors, let him be released on bail upon furnishing bonds. He shall remain present before the trial court on every date of hearing,” the Bench directed.
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At the same time, the Court expressly cautioned that the bail order must not be read as a ground for reinstatement. Referring to allegations that Abedin had previously stalked female students and made obscene remarks online, the Bench said it was “highly advisable” that he not be permitted to resume duty pending trial.
Abedin, formerly a professor at Gossaigaon College, had approached the Supreme Court after the Gauhati High Court refused him bail in July. The case stems from a Facebook post in which he purportedly wrote that “we are with the brother of Pakistani citizens” and “we will be with them in future also,” allegedly uploaded during heightened tension between India and Pakistan.
The High Court had taken a stern view of the post, remarking that Abedin appeared to support Pakistan over India and had failed to uphold the duties mandated under Article 51A of the Directive Principle of the Constitution.
Earlier, when the matter came up before the Supreme Court, the Bench had expressed serious concern over the accusations of stalking and obscene online behaviour towards women, observing that such conduct made him a potential threat to female students.
Today, however, dealing with the plea for bail, the Court emphasised that the trial would take time to conclude. “Let him be granted bail since the trial will take time. But let college suspension remain… since he was alleged to have committed obscene acts,” CJI Kant clarified.