902-WP 12690.2026.doc Kavita S.J. IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION WRIT PETITION NO.12690 OF 2026 People’s Education Society & Anr., ...Petitioners Versus State of Maharashtra & Ors., ...Respondents ---------- Mr. Prashant V. Malik for Petitioners. Smt. Vaishali S. Nimbalkar, AGP for Respondent Nos. 1 & 2 – State. Mr. Prasad L. Gajbhiye a/w Mr. Jayvrat Sakhare & Ms. Rutuja Joshi for Respondent No. 4 – BCI. Mr. Nikhil Chavan for Respondent No.5 – CET Cell. Mr. Anandraj Ambedkar, Chairman of Petitioner No.2 present. ---------- CORAM : R.I. CHAGLA AND FIRDOSH P. POONIWALLA, JJ. DATE : 24th SEPTEMBER, 2026. ORDER: 1. By this Petition, the Petitioner has sought direction to Respondent No.4 - Bar Council of India (“BCI”) to forthwith consider and grant provisional approval to the Petitioner No.2 - Yashwant Law College, Yerwada, Pune (hereinafter referred to as “the said College”), in respect of the Petitioners’ online application on the official portal of Respondent No.4 - BCI, dated 8th September 2026, 1/3 KAVITA SUSHIL JADHAV Digitally signed by KAVITA SUSHIL JADHAV Date: 2026.09.28 14:01:18 +0530 902-WP 12690.2026.doc bearing Reference No.YLC/2026-27/006, seeking approval for commencement of the 3 Year LL.B. Course at the said College for Academic Year 2026-27. Further consequential relief has been sought. 2. Mr. Gajbhiye, learned Counsel appearing for Respondent No.4 - BCI has referred to the fact that by a communication dated 14th September 2026, Respondent No.4 - BCI has not granted approval citing various deficiencies on the part of the said College, which is a new college. He has accordingly stated that the Petitioners would be required to remove the deficiencies and without which Respondent No.4 - BCI cannot grant approval for current Academic Year 2026-2027. 3. Mr. Prashant Malik, learned Counsel appearing for the Petitioners has pointed out that the Respondent Nos.1 and 2 - State has granted permission to start the said College for Academic Year 2026-2027. 4. Respondent No.3 - Pune University, has also granted its approval for starting the new college. 2/3 902-WP 12690.2026.doc 5. We do not find any infirmity in the decision taken by Respondent No.4 - BCI in not granting the approval. The Petitioner No.2 - College being a new College, is required to remove the deficiencies and then only it may be allowed to start the said College which can now only be for the next Academic Year viz. 2027-2028. 6. Accordingly, we dispose of the present Petition. We keep it open for the Petitioners to apply to the Respondent Nos.1 and 2 – State and Respondent No.3 – Pune University for granting approval for the next Academic Year viz. 2027-2028 and upon such application being made, the Respondents shall expeditiously decide the application. 7. The Writ Petition is accordingly disposed of with no order as to costs. [ FIRDOSH P. POONIWALLA, J. ] [ R.I. CHAGLA, J. ] 3/3