Bombay High Court Slams Pune University’s Promotion Circular, Calls It ‘Shocking’
Pune, 13th September 2025: The Bombay High Court has strongly criticized Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) for issuing a circular that allowed students with uncleared backlog exams to be promoted to higher classes. Calling the move “shocking,” the court has sought an explanation from the university and directed the Vice-Chancellor to submit a detailed affidavit.
A division bench of Justices Ravindra Ghughe and Ashwin Bhobe was hearing a plea filed by a law student who had failed in the first year of the LLB course but sought admission to the next academic level. Declining to grant relief to the petitioner, the bench took serious note of SPPU’s circular dated August 2025, which had been signed by Deputy Registrar S. Davkhar.
According to the circular, students who failed in their first-year examinations were permitted to move directly to the third year, those with second-year backlogs could enter the fourth year, and third-year backlog students were allowed to continue to the fifth year.
The court remarked: “Circular No. 209 of 2025 issued by the Savitribai Phule Pune University under the signature of the deputy registrar is not only surprising, but shocking.”
Expressing concern over academic standards, the bench further noted: “It is beyond logic and reason as to why a student who has failed in the first year should be granted admission to the third year’s first semester. If this is the type of rule being introduced by the university, which carries the name of a great and revered educationist, Smt. Savitribai Phule, it would not augur well for the academic excellence of students in this university.”
The judges directed the Vice-Chancellor to file a personal affidavit by September 18, explaining the rationale behind Circular No. 209 of 2025. The court also sought details of the academic bodies, such as the Board of Studies and the Academic Council, that cleared the proposal, along with a list of students who had availed the benefit.
The circular had been issued after protests by student organizations, including the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI), demanding leniency for those with pending backlogs.
The matter will now be heard after the university files its response.
