IMPORTANT POINT
Relief can be granted on the basis of equitable considerations.

ORDER :

B.R. Gavai, J.

Both these writ petitions filed by the petitioner - colleges seek various directions, including the direction to respondent No. 1 - Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Technical University (hereinafter referred to as "the University"), i.e., to comply with Notification dated 19.3.2021 issued by the State Government and grant conditional affiliation to the petitioner - colleges for Academic Year 2020-2021; direction directing the University to organize special examinations for B. Pharma students for Academic Year 2020-2021 in view of the aforesaid Notification dated 19.3.2021; and direction to the University to permit students of the petitioner - colleges to participate in the special examinations.

2. It is the contention of the petitioner - colleges that the facts in the present writ petitions are identical with the facts in Writ Petition (Civil) No. 390 of 2021 (VIIT Pharmacy College and another vs. Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Technical University and another), 2021 SCC Online SC 322 which was allowed by this Court vide order dated 15.4.2021.

3. Insofar as Writ Petition (Civil) No. 390 of 2021 is concerned, the University has not seriously disputed that the facts in the present writ petitions are similar to that in Writ Petition (Civil) No. 390 of 2021. However, it is the contention of the University, taken for the first time in Writ Petition (Civil) No. 448 of 2021 (Shri Badrinath College of Pharmacy vs. Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Technical University & Anr.), that the petitioner -Shri Badrinath College of Pharmacy did not participate in the counselling process and as such, is not entitled to any relief. Another ground that has been taken is, that there is a similar writ petition pending before the High Court filed by the petitioner - Shri Badrinath College of Pharmacy with regard to the same relief.

4. We find, that the facts in both the present writ petitions are almost similar to facts in Writ Petition (Civil) No. 390 of 2021 decided by this Court on 15.4.2021. In both cases, grant of affiliation was denied by the University on the sole ground, that the timeline as prescribed by All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) had lapsed.

5. It is also not in dispute, that vide Notification dated 19.3.2021, the State Government after considering the recommendations made by the Affiliation Committee has granted conditional affiliation to the petitioner - colleges for admission in B. Pharma course in compliance with the order of the High Court passed in Writ Petition No. 12536 of 2020.

6. The writ petitions have been filed by the petitioner -colleges since the University has refused to grant affiliation to the petitioner - colleges and to permit their students to appear for First Year B. Pharma examination.

7. This Court while allowing Writ Petition (Civil) No. 390 of 2021 has observed thus:

"9. This Court, in the case of, Dr. S.K. Toshiwal Educational Trusts Vidarbha Institute of Pharmacy (supra), has held as under:-

"87. In view of the above and for the reasons stated above, it is held that in the field of Pharmacy Education and more particularly so far as the recognition of degrees and diplomas of Pharmacy Education is concerned, the Pharmacy Act, 1948 shall prevail. The norms and regulations set by the PCI and other specified authorities under the Pharmacy Act would have to be followed by the concerned institutions imparting education for degrees and diplomas in Pharmacy, including the norms and regulations with respect to increase and/or decrease in intake capacity of the students and the decisions of the PCI shall only be followed by the institutions imparting degrees and diplomas in Pharmacy. The questions are answered accordingly."

10. Indisputably, in the present case, the PCI has granted approval to both the petitioners vide order dated 10th April 2020, with intake capacity of 100 and 60 admissions/students respectively. Not only that, the petitions filed by the petitioners challenging the policy decision of the State Go