HC lauds college online admission process, says transparency has been maintained

Observing that the online method has brought “transparency” in college admissions, Bombay High Court on Tuesday dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking directions to minority colleges to admit students of ‘non-minority’ in the First Year of Junior College (FYJC). The petition also alleged that minority colleges have indulged into corrupt practices.

The ruling came from a Division Bench of Chief Justice Manjula Chellur and Justice Nitin Jamdar in response to a PIL filed by activist Bhagvanji Rayani, president of Forum for Fairness in Education.

Rayani had sought directions to the Maharashtra government to issue a notification asking all the minority colleges to keep aside 50%

seats for minority students. He had relied on a landmark judgement of Supreme Court.

A larger Bench of the apex court comprising 11 judges ruled that the minority institutions shall make available at least 50% of the annual admission to non-minority community. The judges had also said the admissions must be done purely on merit.

After hearing the submissions advanced by Rayani

and the government, Chief Justice Chellur sSaid, “The admission process to all the colleges has been going on as per the government resolutions which have been issued from time to time by the state government in consonance with the decisions of this court and the apex court. The online process has brought in transparency.”

“Keeping in mind the manner in which the petition has

been moved, purportedly under public interest, and considering the sweep of the prayers sought, we are not inclined to issue any direction in the petition. If the directions as sought for by the petitioner are issued, disregarding all the subsequent developments, it will lead to a chaotic situation and disrupt the entire admission process in the state. Resultantly, the petition is dismissed,” Chief Justice Chellur said.