The Bombay High Court has raised concerns about a recent Government Resolution (GR) in Maharashtra. The resolution allows students to move to the next academic year even if they haven’t cleared their previous exams. The court believes this policy could undermine the quality of education.
The issue came up during a hearing involving a law student from Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU), who wanted to benefit from a university circular despite having failed subjects from the first year. A bench comprising Justices Ravindra V Ghuge and Ashwin D Bhobe expressed doubts about the logic behind the circular and said it might not serve the goal of academic excellence.
What the Circular Says
SPPU’s circular, based on the February 2025 GR, allows students with pending backlogs to be provisionally admitted to the next year. For example:
- Second-year students with first-year backlogs can join third year.
- Third-year students with second-year backlogs can move to fourth year.
- Even those with third-year backlogs can enter fifth year.
This policy has reportedly been adopted by many non-agricultural universities across Maharashtra.
Court’s Reaction
On September 9, the High Court called the circular “shocking” and “beyond logic and reason.” It emphasized that while the ATKT (Allowed to Keep Terms) system does permit students to progress under certain conditions, the SPPU circular goes far beyond that.
The judges noted that such leniency could harm the reputation of institutions named after respected figures like Savitribai Phule. They also pointed to stricter standards at other universities, such as Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University, which requires students to pass at least 75% of their subjects before advancing.
Next Steps
The court has asked all non-agricultural universities governed by the Maharashtra Public University Act to submit affidavits explaining their stance and policies. The state government has also been directed to respond by October 17.
Senior advocate Darius Khambata has been appointed as amicus curiae to assist the court, given the broader implications for education. The next hearing is scheduled for November 11.
