JUDGMENT :

Mangesh S. Patil, J.

1. In these separate writ petitions, may be for different reasons, same relief is being claimed, putting up challenge to the Government Resolution dated 15.06.2023 whereby, the respondent No.1 - State Government, on a recommendation of the respondent No.3 - University granted permission to the respondent No.4 to open a new law college in the light of provision of Section 109 of the Maharashtra Public Universities Act, 2016 (the Universities Act). The petitioner from writ petition No. 4282/2023 in whose favour also there was a favourable recommendation of the respondent No.3 - University has been praying additionally a writ of mandamus directing the respondent Nos.1 to 3 to issue letter of intent in its favour, and then the final permission.

2. In order to avoid repetition, with the consent of both the sides, both these matters are heard finally at the stage of admission and are being taken up together for decision.

3. Rule. It is made returnable forthwith.

Factual Matrix :

i. The respondent No.3 - University by the Government Resolution dated 15.09.2017 prepared a perspective plan under Section 107 of the Universities Act for a period of five years and pub