Case Details

  • Case Name: AARYA MANTRI vs STATE OF MAHARASHTRA & ORS.
  • Court/Authority: Supreme Court of India, Civil Appellate Jurisdiction.
  • Case/Order No.: Civil Appeal No(s). of 2026 (Special Leave Petition (Civil) No(s). 15434 of 2026).
  • Date of Order: 22 May 2026 (recorded 25 May 2026, signature not verified).
  • Related Orders: Government order dated 12.03.2026 withdrawing affiliation of the college for degree courses effective academic year 2026‑27; High Court judgment dated 18‑04‑2026 in WP No. 4459/2026 (Bombay High Court).
  • Period of Dispute: Academic year 2025‑26 (current students) and prospective withdrawal for academic year 2026‑27.

Parties Involved

  • Petitioner/Appellant: AARYA MANTRI.
  • Respondents: STATE OF MAHARASHTRA (first respondent), University (second respondent), Society (third respondent), and Students (impleaded respondents).
  • Interveners/Impleadeds: Students themselves, represented by counsel.
  • Counsel for Petitioner: Senior counsel and advocates including Mr. Shyam Diwan, Sr. Adv., Mr. Satyajit A. Desai, Adv., etc.
  • Counsel for Respondents: Senior counsel and advocates including Mr. Siddharth Dharmadhikari, Adv., Mr. Aaditya Aniruddha Pande, Adv., etc.

Issues / Allegations / Violations

  • The Government order of 12.03.2026 withdrew affiliation of the college for degree courses from academic year 2026‑27 and directed that students of the current academic year 2025‑26 be transferred to other dental colleges.
  • Petitioners contended that the withdrawal of affiliation applies only to the academic year 2026‑27 and that there is no withdrawal for the current academic year 2025‑26.
  • They sought a stay on the directive forcing transfer of 2025‑26 students, arguing that the students should be allowed to complete their courses at the existing institution.

Findings & Observations

  • The Court observed that the portion of the Government order directing students of the current academic year to be admitted to other dental colleges is untenable.
  • No comment was made on the correctness of the affiliation withdrawal for the academic year 2026‑27, which remains under adjudication before the Bombay High Court.

Penalties / Settlements / Directions

  • The Court set aside the part of the Government order dated 12.03.2026 that directed the transfer of 2025‑26 students.
  • It permits the students to continue their respective courses at the third respondent (the Institution) for the academic year 2025‑26.
  • Students are entitled to appear for examinations, internal assessments, and have the results of those examinations declared.
  • All pending applications, including those seeking deletion of proforma respondents, are disposed of.

Corrective Actions & Future Obligations

  • The Institution must allow the continuation of courses for the affected students for the remainder of the academic year 2025‑26.
  • Examination bodies must conduct and declare results for these students.
  • The matter of affiliation withdrawal for academic year 2026‑27 will be addressed separately by the Bombay High Court; the Supreme Court makes no observation on that issue.

Final Ruling & Enforcement

  • The appeal is disposed of in the terms of the signed order.
  • The direction allowing students to remain in the college and sit for exams is binding.
  • All pending applications, including those for deletion of proforma respondents, are disposed of.
  • No further observation or direction regarding the affiliation withdrawal for 2026‑27 is provided; that remains pending before the Bombay High Court.