Bombay High Court Imposes Fines on College and Student for Admission Rule Violations
The Bombay High Court has strongly criticized Hazarimal Somani College of Arts and Science at Girgaum Chowpatty for its failure to adhere to Mumbai University's official circular and for admitting a student in June 2022 without ensuring the submission of his mandatory enrollment form.
Court's Stern Rebuke and Financial Penalties
In a significant ruling delivered on Tuesday, the division bench comprising Justices Riyaz Chagla and Advait Sethna expressed clear disapproval of the college's actions. The court noted that the institution had permitted the student to complete four full semesters despite this procedural lapse, describing the college's conduct as negligent and warranting financial consequences.
The judges directed the college to pay a penalty of Rs 25,000 to Mumbai University. Additionally, they imposed a separate fine of Rs 15,000 on the student petitioner, finding him equally negligent for not responding to multiple notices issued by the college between June 2022 and August 2025, which repeatedly called upon students to submit their enrollment forms.
Background of the Case and Student's Defense
The legal dispute reached the High Court after the student was denied a hall ticket for his Semester V examinations. Represented by advocate Rahul Kadam, the student explained that he missed the submission deadlines due to a combination of factors including oversight, personal emergency, and confusion about the precise deadline.
The student pleaded with the court that, at this advanced stage of his academic journey, he should not be prevented from continuing his course. He had already invested significant time and effort into completing four semesters of his Bachelor of Arts program.
University's Position and College's Response
Mumbai University's advocate, Rui Rodrigues, presented the January 2022 circular that was distributed to all college principals. This document clearly outlined the admission procedures for the 2022-23 academic year and established specific timelines for enrollment form submissions. Rodrigues emphasized that the college had blatantly violated this circular by admitting the student without proper documentation.
The university's representative urged the court to impose costs, citing similar precedents where the High Court had taken such measures in comparable cases of procedural non-compliance.
Representing the college, advocate Vasim Siddiqui argued that the institution had issued multiple notices to students, explicitly stating that it would not be responsible for further consequences and that students would be liable for any penalties or fines prescribed by Mumbai University. Despite these warnings, the petitioner student failed to submit his enrollment form.
Court's Balanced Resolution
While imposing financial penalties for the negligence demonstrated by both parties, the judges also showed consideration for the student's academic progress. They ruled that the petitioner, having been admitted to the college and successfully completing four semesters, should not be prevented from appearing for his Third Year BA examinations (Semester V and VI) scheduled for the current month.
The bench allowed the petition with the condition of the imposed costs. They directed Mumbai University to:
- Generate a Permanent Registration Number for the student
- Keep the online enrollment portal open specifically for him to submit his enrollment form
- Issue hall tickets for both Semester V and VI examinations
The college received identical instructions regarding the issuance of examination hall tickets, ensuring the student can continue his academic pursuits without further disruption.
This ruling underscores the importance of institutional compliance with university regulations while balancing the practical realities of students' academic journeys. The financial penalties serve as a deterrent against procedural negligence while the court's allowance for the student to continue his studies acknowledges his substantial investment in the program.
