Bombay High Court Fines University for Discriminatory Denial of Ph.D. Admission to Meritorious Student
In a recent judgment, the Bombay High Court imposed a fine on a university for its discriminatory denial of admission to a meritorious student seeking entry into the Ph.D. program in Fine Arts. The court strongly criticized the university’s callous attitude, which resulted in the student losing valuable years of academic progress.
The judgment highlighted the following points:
“Denial of admission to Ph.D. program is arbitrary and reflects highhandedness.”
“The university violated its own procedure by issuing an advertisement for admission without verifying vacancies.”
“The petitioner, a Scheduled Caste candidate, secured the highest marks in the Ph.D. Entrance Test and should not have been denied admission.”
“Instances of quota exceedance in other subjects demonstrate a lack of consistency in university policies.”
“The university’s failure to provide a research guide within the validity period of the PET score caused undue hardship to the petitioner.”
“The university’s attitude is callous and has resulted in frustration and harassment for the student.”
The Bombay High Court imposed a fine of Rs. 50,000 on the university, which must be paid to the petitioner as compensation for the injustice suffered.
This judgment serves as a reminder of the importance of fair and consistent admission procedures in educational institutions, especially when it comes to safeguarding the academic interests of meritorious students.
Date of Decision: 17.10.2023
Nilesh vs The State of Maharashtra
