924-WP 11584.2026.doc Kavita S.J. IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION WRIT PETITION NO. 11584 OF 2026 Paramanandhan Balsubramanian …Petitioner Versus The State of Maharashtra & Ors., …Respondents ---------- Mr. Nitin Gaware Patil a/w Shivkumar S. Jangwad for Petitioner. Mr.O.A. Chandurkar, Addl. GP a/w Ms. Priyanka B. Chavan, AGP for Respondent – State. Mr. Amol Bhise, Desk Officer, Higher Education, Mantralaya present. Dr. Ashok Ubale, Joint Director, Higher Education, Pune Region present. ---------- CORAM : R.I. CHAGLA AND FIRDOSH P. POONIWALLA, JJ. DATE : 8th SEPTEMBER, 2026. ORDER : 1. By Order dated 2nd September 2026, this Court had considered the prayers in the Petition viz. directing Respondent Authorities to take immediate and time bound steps, in accordance with the Maharashtra Private Universities (Establishment & Regulation) Act, 2023 for appointment of Vice-Chancellor and Registrar of Sri Balaji University, Pune, and pending such appointment, direct Respondents to ensure continuity and 1/5 KAVITA SUSHIL JADHAV Digitally signed by KAVITA SUSHIL JADHAV Date: 2026.09.10 18:43:13 +0530 924-WP 11584.2026.doc uninterrupted functioning of the University and its statutory authorities, by ensuring continuity of present office bearers on the post of Vice-Chancellor and Registrar till new appointments are made in accordance with law. This Court had considered the urgency in moving the present Petition viz. the further period of one year after expiry of extended term of 3 years of re-appointment of Vice- Chancellor and Registrar expired on 31st August 2026. The dispute between the management of Respondent Nos. 4 and 5 – University has been observed and which is also borne out from Writ Petition filed in this Court viz. Writ Petition No. 15152 of 2025, wherein Orders dated 21st November 2025 and 2nd February 2026 have been passed. 2. Considering the urgent requirement for management of Respondent Nos. 4 and 5 - University, for the Academic Year 2026- 2027, particularly in view of there being 3716 students admitted, and students eligible for convocation are 1613, who have appeared in the examination for the previous Academic Year 2025-2026, the learned AGP for Respondent - State had sought time to take instructions on whether the Vice-Chancellor and Registrar who had continued in their respective capacities for a period of 7 years, may continue for a 2/5 924-WP 11584.2026.doc limited period in the interest of the students of Respondent Nos. 4 and 5 - University. 3. The learned AGP appearing for the Respondent - State has obtained instructions which are vide letter dated 7th September 2026, of the Respondent – State, wherein the Order dated 2nd February 2026 has been referred to, by which this Court had called upon the learned AGP to suggest a few names of senior officers from the Department of Education who can be considered for the appointment of an Administrator for the institutions. 4. By the said letter dated 7th September 2026, which is tendered and taken on record and marked 'X' for identification, the Respondent - State has given the names of senior officers who had been recommended by the Respondent - State vide letter dated 6th March 2026. Out of this list, Serial Nos. 1 and 2 have retired from service, and a revised list of the senior officers have been provided. 5. The Respondent - State has also stated in the said letter that the three posts of President, Vice-Chancellor and Registrar have all fallen vacant, and these posts are of vital importance to the functioning of the Respondent Nos. 4 and 5 – University and 3/5 924-WP 11584.2026.doc accordingly, in view of it being necessary to organize the convocation ceremony of Respondent Nos. 4 and 5 - University for Academic Year 2025-2026, a Board of Administrators be appointed for the functioning of the Respondent Nos. 4 and 5 - University. 6. We have considered the instructions obtained by the learned AGP from the officers present in Court viz. Mr. Amol Bhise and Dr. Ashok Ubale, and as provided in the said letter dated 7th September 2026 marked 'X'. We consider it appropriate to accept the view expressed by the Respondent - State in appointment of Board of Administrators till the posts of President, Vice-Chancellor, and Registrar are filled in. 7. We accordingly appoint the Board of Administrators comprising of - (1) Dr. Gangadhar Kashinath Shirude, Pro-Vice- Chancellor, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune as the Chairman. Members of the Board of Administrators: (1) Chief Finance and Accounts Officer, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune; 4/5 924-WP 11584.2026.doc (2) Shri Parag Sadgir, Dean, COEP Technological University, Pune. 8. The Respondent - State shall take necessary steps in notifying the aforesaid persons who have been appointed on the Board of Administrators within a period of one week from the date of this order, as well as serving a notice of this order on them. 9. The Writ Petition is accordingly disposed of in the above terms. [FIRDOSH P. POONIWALLA, J.] [R.I. CHAGLA, J.] 5/5