Authority: High Court of Judicature at Bombay (Civil Appellate Jurisdiction)

Order Date: 9 October 2026

Case Overview

  • Petitioner: Dr.D.Y.Patil Pratisthan and another (common petitioner in all writ petitions).
  • Respondents: Various individuals including Sachin Dhanraj Narjapure, Anup Rambhau Chapale, Swapnil Vijay Ghogardare, Ravindra Sadashiv Lahane, Sandeep Maruti Desai, Deepak Sunil Patil, Sunil Subrao Patil, Vishwanath Hungund, Navalkant Arvind Konda, Santosh Kumar Bagawe, Nilesh Ramchandra Pawar, among others, each named in separate writ petitions (Nos. 13638, 13673, 13674, 13647, 13643, 13646, 13645, 13664, 13675, 13648, 13644 of 2024).
  • Issue: The petitions challenge the order dated 8 June 2024 passed by the Grievance Redressal Committee of Savitribai Phule Pune University, alleging that the Committee lacked a valid quorum and that its territorial jurisdiction was improper.
  • Legal Precedent Cited: Supreme Court decision in Soma Cyriac Vs. Chairman, Dr.D.Y.Patil Education Enterprise Charitable Trust and others (Petition for Special Leave to Appeal (c) No.8512/2023, dated 25‑2‑2025), where a similar Committee order was set aside for not being constituted as per law.
  • Statutory Amendment: The court noted the amended provisions of Section 79 of the Maharashtra Public Universities Act, 2016, effective from 13 August 2026, which introduce the post of an Ombudsperson to decide all types of grievances of teachers and other university employees, except those against the State Government or matters within the University and College Tribunal’s jurisdiction.
  • Key Provisions of Section 79 (Amended):

1. Appointment of an Ombudsperson from a panel of three retired judges (not below District Judge rank).

2. Term of three years, renewable once, with age limit of 70 years.

3. Removal only on proven misconduct after an inquiry by a retired High Court judge.

4. Obligation to decide grievances within three months of filing.

5. Establishment of an administrative Cell headed by an Assistant Registrar to assist the Ombudsperson.

  • Current Status: The Ombudsperson post is vacant; the university is in the process of appointing one.

Final Outcome

1. All writ petitions are allowed in terms of prayer clause (a); the impugned orders dated 8 June 2024 passed by the Grievance Redressal Committee are quashed and set aside.

2. Savitribai Phule Pune University is directed to appoint an Ombudsperson as per Section 79 of the Act within two months from the date of this order.

3. The petitions are remanded to the Ombudsperson, who must hear the parties and pass a reasoned order on each petition within six months from the date of this order.

4. Parties may file written submissions before the Ombudsperson prior to the hearing.

5. All contentions of the parties are expressly kept open.

6. The Court clarifies that it has not expressed any opinion on the merits; the Ombudsperson shall decide the disputes on merits and in accordance with law.

7. All writ petitions are disposed of on the above terms; no costs are awarded.

Topics: University Grievance Redressal, Ombudsperson Appointment, Court Quash Order