HC notice to college, govt on issue of "cheated" law students

The Bombay High Court today issued notices to Maharashtra government, Chairman of a Law College in the city and the University of Mumbai on a PIL highlighting the plight of 60 students who had been granted admission but cannot appear for examination this year.
The PIL filed by Ketan Tirodkar alleged the 60 students had been cheated by Nalanda College in suburban Borivali.
The PIL alleged the college, by not reserving the first year law seats of students for which they had paid Rs 22,000 to Rs 44,000 during the admission process, had cheated them.
The students have also registered a case against the college at the Borivali police station.

The PIL seeks directions to the university to set up a mechanism to check such practices on the campus which may ruin a crucial academic year of students as also the hard-earned money of their parents or themselves.
The PIL alleged the Chairman of the college had been a Cabinet Minister of Maharashtra for many years. At present, he is an MLA of NCP.

It alleged instructions had been given by Anil Mahajan, claiming to be secretary to a powerful Maharashtra minister, to a senior police inspector of the Borivali police station not to entertain any complaint against the college management. This was the reason for delay in the registration of the FIR.

Further, it is alleged even though an FIR has been registered, there has been no further development in the case, due to "pressure."
The PIL prays for allowing the students to appear for the First year exams.
It urged the state be directed to bring in a mechanism which dissuades in strict terms and stringently penalises the college administrations, managements and Mumbai University for failing to own up their responsibility in such cases.
The matter would be heard after two weeks.