Authority: Uttarakhand High Court
Order Date: Not specified (case WPMS/2094/2026, year 2026)
Case Overview
- Parties: Petitioner – Pithoragarh Institute of Technology and Management; Respondents – Soban Singh Jeena University and others.
- Nature of Proceeding: Writ petition seeking inclusion of newly added BCA and BBA courses (each with an approved intake of 60 seats) in the SAMARTH portal for the academic session 2026‑27, and a decision on representations dated 05.06.2026, 23.06.2026 and 25.06.2026.
- Background: The Institute has been conducting B.H.M. and B.Sc. Agriculture courses for several years under temporary affiliation. It applied for affiliation of BBA and BCA programmes, which the Chancellor’s Secretariat reportedly approved, but the courses were not reflected in the SAMARTH portal.
- Evidence: A photocopy of the Chancellor’s Secretariat website screenshot (Page 30) supporting the Institute’s claim of Chancellor’s approval.
Observations & Reasoning
- The Court noted the Chancellor’s approval as prima facie evidence that the Institute is entitled to provisional affiliation for the new courses.
- The Court emphasized that if the claim of Chancellor’s approval is later found to be inaccurate, the provisional affiliation may be cancelled and the University may impose a heavy fine on the Institute.
Final Outcome
- The writ petition is disposed with a direction to the competent authority of Soban Singh Jeena University to grant provisional affiliation to the Institute for the BBA and BCA programmes, subject to verification of the Chancellor’s approval.
- The University is cautioned that any later discovery of falsehood regarding the Chancellor’s approval will lead to cancellation of the provisional affiliation and the imposition of a heavy fine on the Institute.
Topics: Higher Education, Affiliation, Court Order