The Bombay High Court on Saturday ordered that the University of Mumbai’s senate election proceed as planned on September 22, effectively staying a government circular that had postponed the election.
A division bench of Justices A S Chandurkar and Rajesh Patil issued the stay on the September 19 circular, which had delayed the election indefinitely. The court’s decision came after a special hearing on a petition filed by candidates Milind Satam, Shashikant Zore, and Pradeep Sawant, who challenged the government’s decision to postpone the vote.
“The order postponing the election indefinitely is stayed until further orders. The election shall proceed as scheduled,” the court stated in its brief ruling. A detailed judgment will follow, and the matter is set for further hearing on September 26.
The senate elections, which involve ten seats representing registered graduates of the university, have been delayed for two years, with allegations of discrepancies and state interference casting a shadow over the process. Initially slated for September 13, 2023, the elections were suspended after the government called for an inquiry into claims of duplicate entries in the electoral rolls.
While the court allowed the election to proceed, it did not halt the government’s inquiry process. “The exercise of forming a one-member enquiry committee and submission of its report, as per the September 19 circular, can continue,” the court noted, making it clear that its decision is subject to the final resolution of the case.
(With inputs from agency)
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