In Brief
The Supreme Court resolved a dispute concerning admission to MBA/MMS courses at Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies (JBIMS), a Department of the University of Mumbai. The issue was whether JBIMS should be treated as autonomous or non-autonomous for admissions in 2019-2020. JBIMS had been granted autonomous status for five years (2014-2019) but applied for extension whose decision was pending. The Court held that UGC concurrence is not required for a University Department to obtain autonomous status, as UGC Regulations apply only to affiliated colleges. Since JBIMS's autonomous status was not revoked or surrendered and its extension application was pending with Vice Chancellor's permission, it should be treated as autonomous. The Court directed admissions based on merit in the Common Entrance Test, treating JBIMS as autonomous, to ensure meritorious students were not unjustly denied admission to a premier institution of national repute.
The lawyer headnote and full judgment text are available to registered users.