SNDT university’s working not beyond doubt,observes HC

The High Court order came during the hearing of a petition filed by a Veraval-based college,Matru Shri Kesarben Savaniya B Ed College.

The 100 pupil college has been claiming affiliation to the university,which the latter has denied.

Recently,the university authorities refused to allow the students of the Veraval college to sit in the annual examination,as according to them,the college is not affiliated to them.

Following this,the college management moved a petition through their lawyer Vanraj Parghi against the university,demanding a direction to SNDT University authorities to allow the college students to appear in the annual examination.

During the hearing of the petition,the university’s lawyer produced a resolution dated September 8,2009 — passed by its Academic Council — before the court to suggest that the university has cancelled the college’s affiliation.

But subsequently it came out before the court that the resolution put on record by the SNDT University pertains to some other college and not to the petitioner college.

Following this,the court asked the university’s lawyer if there is any resolution related to the petitioner college,which was passed by the university’s Academic Council on that particular date.

In reply,the university’s lawyer pointed to a particular item number on the agenda of the Academic Council’s meeting.

Senior counsel Sudhir Nanavati,appearing on behalf of the petitioner college,countered the argument by putting a documentary evidence before the court suggesting that it was not related to the petitioner college.

Taking a serious cognizance of this,Justice R R Tripathi observed,“…the Court is of the opinion that the working of the respondent-University is not beyond doubt. Therefore,it is deemed proper that a responsible officer be deputed forthwith to take into custody the records pertaining to the Academic Council Meeting held on September 8,2009…”

Justice Tripathi added: “The Principal Secretary,Higher & Technical Education Department,Government of Maharashtra is directed to depute a responsible officer with a direction to take into custody the relevant record of the Academic Council Meeting held on September 8,2009 and produce the same in a sealed cover before this Court on the next date of hearing.”