Mumbai University Admissions: 1000s of candidates await SC decision on reservation row

NEW DELHI, JULY 13: Gauri Jadhav, a Mumbai University English (Hons) aspirant visits St Xavier’s College Mumbai every day with a hope that she’ll hear some good news regarding the second admission list of Mumbai University, but in vain. Thousands of Mumbai University aspirants like Gauri are left clueless on the admission even as they await the second merit list which the Maharashtra State Education Department has put on hold until further notice.

The Mumbai University colleges were supposed to announce a second merit list for admissions to different programmes on June 22, 2018, but a day before the State Education Department withheld the list. Since then, there has been no update - neither from the Mumbai University nor the State Education Department.

The first admission list was announced on June 19, 2018 by the various Mumbai University colleges. The admissions basis the first merit list has also been completed by all the colleges. 

Why is second admission list withheld?

The second admission list is now stuck between a previous High Court Order which cancelled reservation in all minority colleges and multiple protests by various student groups demanding reservations.

The Bombay High Court had issued an order in November 2017 stating “All colleges with 50 per cent reservations belonging to the minority category will not be able to reserve seats for SC/ST and OBC category students.” In conformity of this order, the Mumbai University had taken a shift in its admission processes following which the seats for the reserved categories were cancelled.

This order referred to a Constitutional Amendment of the year 2005 which exempts minority institutions from reservations. The 104th Constitutional Amendment Act 2005 was made in consonance with Article 15(5) of the Indian Constitution giving exemption of minority institutions from constitutional reservations guaranteed under Article 30 of the Indian Constitution. 

Further, the cancellation of reserved category seats in minority colleges led to a series of protests by various student organisations, which led to the state government moving to the Supreme Court against the Bombay High Court order.

Where does State Government stand?

The Maharashtra State Government has filed a Special Leave Petition (SLP) in the apex court, which is yet to be heard in the SC.  A possible SC hearing on the matter over next week, may lead to a solution to the lingering admission chaos and uncertainty in the state.

On the other side, the candidates who had been offered seats, according to the first merit list of Mumbai University admission process too fear of losing their seats, even as the SC decision on the matter is awaited.

Meanwhile, the disruption and delay in the admission process has affected the commencement of fresh academic session which already stands delayed by at least 10-15 days, as of now.