Bombay HC questions JBIMS on admissions for NRI candidates – Times of India

Mumbai: Bombay high court on Thursday sought the response of Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies (JBIMS) to know how it granted admissions to NRI candidates on supernumerary seats without state CET cell’s approval.
A bench of Justices Suresh Gupte and Surendra Tavade heard a petition by Sagar Bhoite and Gaurav Thakur, who had applied in the Children of Indian Workers in Gulf Countries (CIWGC) category for Masters in Management Studies course for 2020-21.
Their advocate, Atal Bihari Dubey, said there are 120 seats and above that there are 15% seats in supernumerary category. Of these, one-third (6) are reserved for CIWGC and two-third (12) for OCI/PIO/foreign students. Six seats of CIWGC were filled and the petitioners were waitlisted.
But the college illegally split OCI/PIO category (one-third each) and prepared a separate list for NRI students. “They made their own law. They made a third list,’’ said Dubey. Only two candidates who had applied in OCI/PIO category got admission. There were four seats remaining. So the college admitted six NRI students and accommodated four others in the balance four seats of OCI/PIO.
The petition said when petitioners learnt of the merit list published on January 28 they were shocked to see blatant discrimination, violation of admission rules and undue favour towards NRI students. The JBIMS director did not entertain them.
Dubey argued that first preference balance seats in OCI/PIO category had to be given to CWIGC category students. The judges pointed out that a proviso to the rules for admission permit giving these seats to NRI students subject to approval of authorities. “That approval was also not taken,’’ said Dubey.
CET cell’s advocates Rui Rodrigues and Aadesh Sawant confirmed its approval was not taken for NRI admissions. The court was told institutional round admissions close on Friday. Dubey said admissions were over and have to be approved by CET cell. The judges issued notice to JBIMS and said its director must be present on Friday.