The Week That Was: The Bombay High Court

With Ganesh Chaturthi festival in the backdrop, the Bombay High Court was working for a couple of days this week. Much of the news this week came from the Chief Justice’s court. Challenge to the state government’s decision to bring in the domicile criteria was heard by a bench headed by Chief Justice Manjula Chellur with the order being reserved for Monday. Also before the Chief was a petition questioning the role of Bar Council of India..Let us now have a look at all that was newsworthy in the Bombay High Court this week..Wednesday, September 14.State defends domicile criteria in medical admissions.Arguing before the Division bench of Chief Justice Manjula Chellur and MS Sonak J., the acting Advocate General Rohit Deo made his submissions on “reasonableness” of the domicile criteria introduced by the state government with respect to medical admissions. He stated that the 15% quota available for outside students is actually a restriction imposed by the apex court, otherwise the State was well within it’s rights to implement such a criteria..A unique case of an aspirant both whose parents are in the army was also brought to notice of the court through a writ petition. It was her contention that it is difficult for her to get a domicile certificate as both the parents have transferrable jobs..The order in these petitions will be passed tomorrow. Students from outside the state as well as the ones with state domicile are waiting eagerly for the final verdict..Admissions to law colleges in Maharashtra begin.State’s counsel LM Acharya informed the Bench of Chief Justice Manjula Chellur and MS Sonak that admissions to all hundred and sixteen law colleges in the state have begun..The bench was hearing a writ petition filed by law students of SNDT University, questioning the role of the Bar Council of India in legal education. Now that the BCI has decided to withdraw it’s de-affiliation of certain colleges including GLC Mumbai, the other prayer regarding BCI’s role remains pending..This case was adjourned and will now come up in due course..Friday, September 16.What is wrong with Suryanamaskar?.The above question was asked by the division bench of CJ Manjula Chellur and MS Sonak J when a PIL opposing a resolution passed by the BMC making yoga and suryanamaskar mandatory for civic schools, was mentioned. The interim relief sought was to stay the resolution passed by the civic body, which was rejected..The petitioner, a former corporator Masood Ansari, alleges in his petition that the resolution is in violation of fundamental right of students as they belong to different religions, castes and communities..CJ Chellur observed that suryanamaskar is actually good for the body. The matter will now be heard in due course.