Arts and Science Junior College through Its Principal v. Maharashtra State Secondary and Higher Seconday Education Board Thr Its Divisional Secretary
Case brief
What is this about?
Examination centre cancellation; HSC examination; Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education; Divisional Board Chh. Sambhajinagar / Latur; Article 226 writ petition; arbitrariness; absence of reasons; reasoned order; proportionality; competent committee; procedural timelines; show cause notice; copy-free campaign / copy-mukt abhiyan; mass copying; stray incident; student welfare; quashing of order; restoration of exam centre February 2026; administrative law; education law; Aurangabad Bench Bombay High Court; 19.01.2026.
What did the court decide?
All the writ petitions allowed; the impugned orders cancelling the petitioners' examination centres (including the order dated 18.12.2025 of Respondent No.3) quashed and set aside; Respondent Nos.2 and 3 directed to restore and continue the examination centres for the ensuing examinations from February 2026 (standards X and XII), subject to institutional undertakings within two weeks and compliance with the recorded safeguards; regulatory directions issued to authorities (mandatory orientation of deputed staff, prompt fair inquiry fixing liability on responsible staff instead of mechanical action against institutions, strict adherence to standards/timelines and reasoned orders for any future closure, uniformity and non-discrimination with a proportionate action matrix, circulation of the order to all centres); Rule made absolute; no order as to costs.