VIDYA VIKAS EDUCATION TRUST Vs. STATE OF MAHARASHTRA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Mr Rodrigues has instructions to appear for both Respondent No. 3, the Admission Regulatory Authority and Respondent No. 4, Fees Regulation Authority ("FRA"). There has been a late development. The Fees Regulating Authority, Respondent No. 4 at its meeting on 21/6/2023 decided the Fees Revision Applications for the 3 Year and 5 Year LLB courses. So far as the 3 Year LLB course is concerned, the revised fees were fixed at Rs.13,564.00 and for the 5-year LLB course they were fixed at Rs.11,409.00. Mr Desai submits on behalf of the Petitioners that this is remarkable because the existing fees for both courses were roughly Rs.35,000.00. An increase was sought to Rs.53,000.00 approximately and the result has been a severe reduction to a little over Rs.13,000.00 and little over Rs.11,000.00 respectively.

(2.) Having said that, we believe the matter is capable of a workable temporary order. Mr Desai has instructions to state that the Petitioners will proceed on the basis that their application for revision of the fees has been decided by the Fees Regulation Authority but subject to the Petitioner's right to carry the matter in a review that is also available. If the statement is accepted, Mr Desai submits, then at least the college will be able to participate in the admission rounds for the LLB courses. These are of course the Centralized Admission Process or CAP rounds and the whole regime for those rounds will have to be followed.

(3.) We accept the statement of Mr Desai, i.e., that his grievance of the proposal not having been decided is now concluded (though not to his clients' satisfaction). We note he reserves their right to carry the matter in a review.