HC directs MU to qualify intl student for MA course
MUMBAI: Bringing relief to an international student, the Bombay high court (HC) has directed the University of Mumbai (MU) to qualify Megha Puri to pursue her second-year Master of Arts (MA) in Applied Psychology.
The university informed her that she did not meet the eligibility criteria without being given any reason for the same in any communication, especially in two emails dated November 26, 2021.
The court also ordered the eligibility department of the university to cancel the email sent to her denying her admission eligibility.
Puri, a foreign student and graduate of mechanical engineering from Maharashtra Institute of Technology, Pune, had moved HC early this year questioning MU’S communication dated November 26, 2021, declining her admission to the MA in Applied Psychology. Based on the arguments by both the parties, the division bench of justice SV Gangapurwala and justice RN Laddha in their order stated, “We find it difficult to approve the email communications of the respondents dated November, 26, 2021, declining admission to the Master of Arts Course in Applied Psychology. Accordingly, we quash and set aside the impugned e-mail communications dated November, 26, 2021. We also direct that the university give admission for
Master of Arts Course in Applied Psychology. The university is also directed to issue eligibility for MA part II of the Master of Arts Course in Applied Psychology for the academic year 2022-23.”
Puri had applied for admission to the course based on a circular dated April 16, 2021, that invited applications to admit all international students for the academic year 2021-2022 without any reservations or conditions in respect of such international students. She had complied with all the prerequisites and requirements and submitted all documents required for being eligible for admission and, as per the email dated September 28, 2021, paid ₹1,28,339 as eligibility fees, application fees, and course fees to MU. Then she attended classes conducted both online as well as off-line and also flew down from Kathmandu to Mumbai amid pandemic.