Bombay HC rejects PIL on student intake cuts in law colleges, imposes ₹1 lakh costs on petitioner for proxy PIL

The Bombay High Court on Wednesday dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) petition challenging the University of Mumbai’s decision to halve the intake capacity of students in affiliated law colleges [Lawyers Foundation v. Mumbai University and Ors.]

A bench of acting Chief Justice Ravindra Ghuge and Justice Gautam Ankhad also imposed costs of ₹1 lakh on the petitioner, Lawyers’ Foundation, after finding that the plea appeared to be a proxy litigation on behalf of an affected college.

The Court said the lawyers' body had no role in a matter related to academics.

“You are nobody to question this. These are academic affairs. Your lawyers' body is put forth by the educational institution. So, we are going to issue notice to the educational institution as to why it should not be shut down,” the Court said. 

The plea challenged the decision of the Mumbai University to reduce 50% seats in three-year and five-year LLB courses in around 45 colleges for the 2026–27 academic year.

Advocate Ibrahim M Shaikh, representing the petitioner, argued that the university had reduced intake despite pending proposals from colleges.

However, the Court questioned how the petitioner had obtained the information mentioned in the plea including certain confidential details related to a college.

The Court said the university appeared to have taken a lenient stand, as it noticed that one of the law colleges - Rizvi College of Law - was operating without any faculty.

“We find it strange that the University has taken a little mild stand. They should have taken a tough stand. You have brought something to the notice of this court. Something which disturbs the court. A law college operating without a principal, without a teacher? All those who are not recognized are teaching in the school, in the college?,”  the Bench said.

The Court observed that the state of the college's academic environment was anybody's guess, as it did not have a single approved faculty member, a principal, or even an in-charge principal.

In the order, the Court noted that the petition filed by Lawyers' Foundation appeared to have been filed on behalf of Rizvi Law College to challenge the varsity's order against the college.

“Having noticed the conduct of the petitioner, in the light of the above discussion, this petition is dismissed by imposing costs of ₹1 lakh. The petitioner shall deposit this cost amount in this court within 30 days from today,” the Court ordered. 

The Court further observed that matters relating to law colleges fall under the purview of the Bar Council of India (BCI).

“It’s not the University which has to deal with it. It is the BCI which has to deal with it,” the Bench said.