Pune: Riya Nikalje, a student from Pimple Gurav, has had her admission to Balaji Law College in Tathawade revoked, citing discrepancies in her paperwork.
Riya, who belongs to the backward class, ranked in the merit list with an impressive 70 percentile. However, it has come to light that the college administration awarded admission to another student with only a 38 percentile, leading to allegations of unfair practices.
The parents of Riya have raised their concerns by filing a written complaint with the CET Cell and the Higher and Technical Education Department, questioning the basis for canceling Riya's admission prior to the CET Cell's decision. They are also seeking clarification on whether any actions will be taken against those responsible for this decision.
According to the CET Cell’s regulations, admissions for the law degree program should adhere strictly to the merit list. Yet, despite Riya's qualifications, she was denied entry. Parents have voiced allegations that reputed colleges have caused confusion in the admission process, particularly regarding the allocation of remaining seats after the cap round.
Riya's admission was reportedly denied on the grounds that she did not possess a ledger and gap certificate. Parents are insisting that eligible students must be granted admission as stipulated by the rules. In line with the checklist provided by Balaji College, all necessary documents were submitted. During the institute round, there were reportedly 144 students on the waiting list in the SC category.
The CET Cell has reiterated that admissions must be based on merit, but the situation raises concerns as Balaji Law College prioritized a candidate with lower scores.
Moreover, it has been revealed that the merit list was not displayed on the notice board during the institute round, leaving candidates unaware of the admission criteria. Savita Nikalje, Riya's mother, claims to possess evidence regarding the matter.
Tejaswi Avhad, Principal of Balaji Law College, commented on the issue, stating, "There were discrepancies in Riya's documents. When we requested clarification, she contested our findings. As she is from the SC category, her documents required further verification.
We have reviewed the online documents as well. Despite this, a complaint has been lodged against our college, and we have provided an explanation to the CET Cell."
