Bombay High Court
PEOPLES EDUCATION SOCIETY THRU CHAIRMAN AND ANRversusSTATE OF MAHARASHTRA THRU SECRETARY AND ORS
- Decided
- Disposal
- Disposed Off
Holding
The court directed that, upon timely submission and payment of fees, BCI shall approve the college by 10 September 2026, DHE shall verify and list it by 11 September 2026, and the CET Cell shall act accordingly.
Summary
The petitioners, People’s Education Society, sought a court directive to obtain approval for their law college from the Bar Council of India (BCI) and the Directorate of Higher Education, Pune (DHE). The court ordered that the petitioners must submit their proposal, requisite documents, and pay the applicable late fees on the BCI portal by 9 September 2026. If the submission is found in order, BCI must grant approval by 10 September 2026, after which the petitioners must upload the approval for DHE verification, which must be completed by 11 September 2026. DHE is then to list the college and its approved intake capacity, enabling the State CET Cell to update its portal. The writ petition was disposed in accordance with these directions.
Issues considered
- Whether the court can compel the Bar Council of India to grant approval to the petitioners’ law college upon payment of late fees
- Whether the Directorate of Higher Education must verify and list the college on the approved list within a specified timeframe
- Whether the State CET Cell must act on the updated approval information
Subjects
- law college approval
- Bar Council of India
- Directorate of Higher Education
- State CET Cell
- writ petition
- late fees
- court direction
Judgment
925-WP 11716.2026.doc
Kavita S.J.
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
WRIT PETITION NO. 11716 OF 2026
People’s Education Society & Ors., …Petitioners
Versus
State of Maharashtra & Ors., …Respondents
----------
Mr. Prashant Malik for the Petitioners.
Ms. Kavita N. Solunke, Addl. GP a/w Mr. P.G. Sawant, AGP for
Respondent – State.
Mr. Prasad L. Gajbhiye a/w Mr. Jayvrat Sakhare & Rutuja Joshi for
Respondent No.4 – BCI.
Mr. Nikhil Chavan for Respondent No.5 – CET Cell.
----------
CORAM : R.I. CHAGLA AND
FIRDOSH P. POONIWALLA, JJ.
DATE : 8th SEPTEMBER, 2026.
ORDER :
1. Mr. Gajbhiye, learned Counsel appearing for Respondent
No. 4 - Bar Council of India (BCI), pursuant to service effected by the
Petitioner, as directed by Order dated 7th September 2026, states
that the Petitioners are required to submit the proposal along with
requisite documents for their approval on the portal of Respondent
KAVITA No. 4 - BCI, which is open till 15th September 2026 and upon
SUSHIL
JADHAV
Digitally signed
by KAVITA
SUSHIL JADHAV
Date: 2026.09.08
payment of requisite late fees.
18:58:44 +0530
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925-WP 11716.2026.doc
2. Mr. Prashant Malik, learned Counsel appearing for the
Petitioner states that the proposal along with the requisite documents
and payment of requisite late fees shall be made by tomorrow, viz.
9th September 2026.
3. In the event the proposal along with requisite documents
and late fees are paid, and they are found in order, BCI shall grant
necessary approval on or before 10th September 2026.
4. Upon such approval being granted, the Petitioner's law
College shall forthwith upload such approval on their online login IDs
for obtaining the college approval, and the Directorate of Higher
Education, Pune (DHE) shall immediately verify the same and grant
its approval on or before 11th September 2026.
5. In that event, on or before 11th September 2026, the
DHE shall also include the name of the Petitioner law college along
with its latest approved intake capacity in its "Approved List", so that
the State CET Cell can fetch the updated data on the official portal.
6. Needless to state that, the State CET Cell shall act upon
this order in the event the Petitioner complies with the same.
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925-WP 11716.2026.doc
7. The Writ Petition is accordingly disposed of in these
terms.
[FIRDOSH P. POONIWALLA, J.] [R.I. CHAGLA, J.]
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