(1.) The teachers of Sheth L U Jhaveri and Sir M.V. College of Arts, Science and Commerce and Sir Chinai College of Commerce and Economics approached this Court under Article 226 of the Constitution of India in Writ Petition No.1379 of 2007 praying that the closure notice dated 13th June 2007 (Exhibit A to the petition) issued by the management of the colleges be quashed and set aside and the management be directed to admit requisite number of students for Academic Year 2007-2008 onwards. It was further prayed that the respondents be directed to comply with the directions contained in the letter dated 27th June 2007 issued by the Deputy Director of Education, State of Maharashtra. Lastly they prayed for a direction for appointment of an independent managing committee to manage the affairs of both these colleges.
(2.) Writ Petition (Lodging) No. 1379 of 2007 was filed on 2nd July 2007. During the pendency of the said petition, another petition being Writ Petition (Lodging) No. 1569 of 2007 was filed on 23rd July 2007 by the Laxmi Education Society Trust which is looking after the affairs of both the colleges seeking a declaration that the closure notice issued by the management was legal and proper, the show cause notice dated 13th July 2007 (Exhibit K to the petition) issued by Director of the Education proposing to appoint an administrator was illegal, unjustified and they prayed for quashing of the same and for issuance of consequential directions. However, during the pendency of the above petitions, an order was made on 25th July 2007, vide which an administrator was appointed. The petitioners in the above petition prayed for setting aside and quashing the said order on the ground that the same is illegal and unjustified being violative of the principles of natural justice.
(3.) Still another public interest litigation, being PIL No. 55 of 2007, was filed on 4th July 2007 by one Sarvadanand Shukla praying for appropriate writ or order directing respondent No.1 to hold education activities and give admissions to the students for full academic course and to remove all the notices put up on the notice board of the colleges. Each of these writ petitions was contested by the respective parties by filing their replies.