Symbiosis International University, Through Registrar And ANR v. University Grants Commission, Through Chairman

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION WRIT PETITION NO.7702 OF 2014 Symbiosis International University & Anr.

.... Petitioners Vs.

University Grants Commission .... Respondent Mr. Ravi Bhardwaj with Mr. Ajinkya Udane for the Petitioners.

Mr. Rui A. Rodrigues with Ms Rimi Jain for the Respondent.

CORAM: S.C. DHARMADHIKARI & M.S. KARNIK, JJ.

DATE : FEBRUARY 04, 2019 P.C:

1.

On this writ petition, there was an ad-interim order passed on 20-8-2014.

2.

That discussed what the issue was and thereafter this Court granted stay to the effect, operation and implementation of a letter dated 23-7-2014, issued by the University Grants Commission ("UGC" for short).

3.

During the pendency of this writ petition, an affidavit in-reply has been filed, somewhat belatedly, on 22-1-2019.

4.

In that affidavit, the UGC has said that the issue raised in the writ petition can be considered again. The UGC is not averse to deciding as to whether the National Education Policy, 1986 which also requires some nomenclature and duration of degree programme to be adhered to could be applied and if there is any scope for reworking or reconsidering the matter, then, the present petitioners' course, which is a four year under-graduate programme, can then be permitted or approved.

5.

Mr. Rodrigues states that the UGC will, in terms of the instructions received by him, reconsider this issue and will take a decision as expeditiously as possible. 6.

Mr. Bhardwaj says that in terms of the subsequent development, full materials and relevant and germane to the

issue have been already forwarded to the UGC. 7.

If that be the position, then without expressing any opinion on the rival contentions, we direct the UGC to take a fresh decision as expeditiously as possible and in any event within three months from today.

8.

The ad-interim protection granted by this Court shall continue till the UGC takes the fresh decision and communicates the same to the petitioners.

9.

The writ petition is disposed of in the above terms. (M.S. KARNIK, J.) (S.C. DHARMADHIKARI, J.)