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PhD Seat Secured: Bombay HC Clears Path for NT-C Scholar After University Backtracks on Hidden Rule
In a quick turnaround that underscores the High Court's role in upholding , the on , disposed of Writ Petition No. 1953/2026 filed by Dipak Namdev Kharat against . Justices Anil L. Pansare and Nivedita R. Mehta noted the university's affidavit withdrawing an unnotified 50% benchmark for the reserved Nomadic Tribe (NT)-C category, allowing Kharat to join the PhD batch of 2025 with provisions for catch-up classes.
From Qualifying Exam to Courtroom Battle
Dipak Namdev Kharat, an NT-C category candidate, cleared MNLU Nagpur's PhD entrance test announced on . He advanced to interviews on , but was omitted from the provisional admission list published , which included 26 others. Kharat alleged the lone NT-C reserved seat was allocated to an open category candidate, prompting his email grievance.
The university's Doctoral Council met on , and formed a Sub-Committee. On February 14, its Convenor assured review and recommendations, but with no follow-up and classes underway, Kharat approached the court.
Petitioner's Stand: Reservation Right Denied
Represented by Advocates and , Kharat argued had unjustly denied his reserved seat, violating reservation norms. He sought directions for admission, highlighting the delay's impact as the programme had commenced.
University's Corrective Pivot Under Court Scrutiny
MNLU Nagpur, through Advocates and , responded to prior court orders with an affidavit. It admitted the 50% benchmark for reserved categories was unnotified and thus withdrawn, reconsidering Kharat's candidature afresh for the 2025 PhD batch.
Bench's Intervention Sparks Resolution—No Precedents Needed
The 's oversight prompted the university's remedy without delving into precedents. The focus remained on in admissions, ensuring candidates aren't sidelined by internal, undisclosed criteria. This aligns with broader principles of transparency in public university processes.
Key Observations
"counsel for respondent Nos.1 and 2 have tendered affidavit saying that a decision is taken and benchmark of 50% for the has been withdrawn because it was unnotified and that petitioner's candidature is considered for admission to the Ph.D. batch of 2025."
"He submits that the petitioner is at liberty to attend classes from tomorrow. He further submits that remedial/extra classes for the petitioner will be taken to cover the syllabus/course undertaken till today."
"Counsel for petitioner, on instructions, submits that the petitioner is satisfied with the subsequent development. Thus, purpose of filing petition is served."
Purpose Served: Classes Resume, Case Closed
The bench marked the affidavit as "X" and disposed of the petition, recording petitioner's counsel's satisfaction. Kharat can now attend classes immediately, with MNLU arranging extra sessions to bridge the gap. This outcome reinforces universities' duty to adhere to notified reservation policies, potentially averting similar disputes by mandating transparency in eligibility benchmarks. Future NT-C aspirants may benefit from this emphasis on corrective action over litigation.
