Chulalongkorn University has denied allegations its punishment of student activist Netiwit Chotiphatphaisal was far too harsh and that it is behind the times with its ceremonies.
Mr Netiwit was previously ousted as president of the university's student council and four other students were removed as council members.
The purge came after a university probe panel concluded they violated university regulations and deducted 25 points each from their "behaviour scores", which disqualified them from the council.
The university said the group intended to disrupt the ceremony in which freshmen prostrate themselves as they pay respect in front of statues of King Rama V, the university's founder, and King Rama VI on Aug 3.
On that day, Mr Netiwit, a second-year political science major, led a group of his supporters in a walk out, prompting a lecturer to put one of the students in a headlock.
The student activist cited that King Rama V himself had banned prostration as a reason for not taking part in the ceremony.
The punishment of the group has drawn heavy criticism from liberal-minded people and many members of the public.
In a statement yesterday, the university insisted that the disciplinary punishment was in line with normal practice and regulations, adding the probe process was transparent and independent.
The university disputed the criticism of its "conservative" ceremony, insisting that it respects all different opinions.
Students can take part in the ceremony on a voluntary basis, the statement said, and they have the right to skip it if they disagree with it without any negative consequences.
The university also prepared areas for those who want to stand to pay respect, the statement said, adding that Mr Netiwit's group knew this but distorted information and intended to create a disturbance by walking out and showing "symbolic" dissent in front of thousands of other students.
The university said it has launched a disciplinary probe into the lecturer who assaulted the student and his actions had nothing to do with Chulalongkorn policies.
