Court Denies Writ Petition, Emphasizes Integrity of Examination Process and Authenticity of Documents
In a significant judgment, the Bombay High Court dismissed the writ petition filed by Shubham Vijay Mangire challenging the cancellation of his provisional admission to the First Year of the B.Tech. Renewable Energy Engineering programme. The court upheld the decision of the university, which had canceled the admission based on fabricated scorecards submitted by the petitioner for the MAH-MHT-CET 2026 examination.
The bench, comprising Justices R.I. Chagla and Farhan P. Dubash, emphasized the critical importance of maintaining the integrity of the examination process and the authenticity of documents submitted for admissions. The petitioner had sought a writ of mandamus to direct the State Common Entrance Test Cell to investigate discrepancies in his scorecards and to reinstate his admission. However, the court found that the petitioner had failed to establish any enforceable right based on the inauthentic documents.
The court noted that the investigation conducted by the State CET Cell revealed significant discrepancies in the scorecards initially relied upon by the petitioner. The Supplementary Report submitted by the CET Cell confirmed that the actual scores obtained by the petitioner were substantially lower than those reflected in the fabricated scorecards. The court observed that such discrepancies were not mere clerical errors but indicated fabrication, undermining the credibility of the documents.
The judgment stressed that a writ of mandamus could not be issued to protect a right founded on fabricated documents. The court maintained that its extraordinary jurisdiction could not be invoked to uphold an illegality or to sustain an advantage obtained through inauthentic means.
Furthermore, the court clarified that the proceedings were not criminal in nature and refrained from prejudging any criminal liability. It left the door open for competent authorities to investigate and take further action if deemed necessary.
The court's decision serves as a stern reminder of the consequences of tampering with examination records and the importance of honesty and integrity in the competitive admission process for professional courses.
Bottom Line :
Authenticity of documents submitted for admission to professional courses is crucial. A writ of mandamus cannot be issued to protect a right based on fabricated or inauthentic documents.
Statutory provision(s): Article 226 of the Constitution of India, 1950
Shubham Vijay Mangire v. State of Maharashtra, (Bombay)(DB) : Law Finder Doc id # 2961346
