Backtracking on its decision to auto-surrender unfilled minority seats, the Maharashtra Education Department has now allowed minority colleges to retain their reserved seats while admissions are underway. This follows an earlier directive asking minority colleges to surrender unfilled minority quota seats by August 2, after the fourth merit list.

Concerned about losing its minority quota seats, Mumbai’s Guru Nanak Khalsa College of Arts, Science & Commerce filed a writ petition in the Bombay High Court. “We filed the petition on August 4 to safeguard the rights of minority institutes as enshrined in Article 30 of the Constitution of India, which reads: ‘Right of minorities to establish and administer educational institutions.’ Thankfully, the state has realised that the rights of minorities can’t be curtailed and has withdrawn the communication that was challenged before the Bombay High Court,” said Adv Ravleen Kaur Sabharwal, legal representative of Khalsa College.

Stakeholders from other colleges also welcomed the move and have resumed admissions. Having filled over 50 per cent of its seats, KC College, a Sindhi minority institution, began FYJC classes for all three streams on Monday. “We’ve heaved a sigh of relief now that the decision has been withdrawn. Initially, several students were unable to submit their OTPs on time, which made it difficult for us to collate their details on the portal. Now, we can help students navigate the OTP process and other steps to secure their admissions before the deadline,” said Principal Tejashree Shanbhag.