Mumbai: After initially debarring several law and BEd colleges from this year’s admission process, Mumbai University has allowed them to participate in it, but with hefty fines and a substantial cut in student intake. In some cases, the university issued affiliation certificates, but they have now been cancelled.The university reduced the intake capacity by 50% for 39 law and 29 BEd colleges that do not have an approved principal or a single approved teacher on their rolls. Additionally, it has imposed a fine of Rs 10 lakh on each. In another category of colleges, which have less than 50% approved teachers, the university has cut the student intake by 25% and has asked them to pay a fine of Rs 5 lakh each. In the second category, there are 11 law colleges and 23 BEd colleges. Some of these colleges plan to move court against the university’s decision.This is the first time the university has taken such stringent action against affiliated colleges for failing to appoint approved teachers. The collective reduction in intake is expected to affect around 6,000 to 8,000 seats during the ongoing admission season.In a letter sent to a law college on Monday, the university stated that the affiliation certificate issued for the 2026-27 academic year stands null and void. It said the certificate had been issued due to a technical error by the affiliation department and added that any students admitted beyond the revised 75% intake capacity will not be enrolled by the university. The college will be solely responsible for such admissions, it stated.The university’s registrar, Prasad Karande, told TOI that the action taken is only on the basis of lack of approved teachers and that the university has not yet considered infrastructure. A principal said that no local inquiry committee visited their college before issuing such a diktat and therefore, colleges are planning to move court. A university official, though, said these colleges had given an undertaking last year too and did not fulfil the requirements.There are 110 law colleges and 80 BEd colleges affiliated to Mumbai University.
