Quashed

Maheepinder Singh Mahal and Ors. v. State of Punjab and Ors.

Punjab & Haryana HC25 Aug 2009CWP/12024/2009

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

In these CWP petitions challenging the admission counseling schedule for engineering courses, the petitioner candidates of CET/AIEEE 2009 allegations that the university started counseling based on 10+2 merits without noticing unfilled seats to entrance test takers.

What did the court decide?

The notification dated 4 March 2009 was quashed; authority directed to issue notice of unfilled vacancies and afford first chance to CET/AIEEE candidates.

Maheepinder Singh Mahal and Ors. Vs State… — Education and Admissions | Punjab & Haryana HC (2009)

IN THE FHGH COURT OF PUNJAB HARYANA AT
CHANDIGARH Al
j
1e CWP No2024 of2009
Singh Mahal 8cothers ePetitioners
Versus
StateofPunjabc others
2 CWP No 12025of2009
m
C NavjotKaur Petitioner
0 Versus
0 State
ofPunjaband others
C5 3 CWPNo12023of2009
Gursimran Singh Petitioner
Versus
StateofPunjabandothers
4 CWP No 12204of2009
08 Singh
Bhatia Petitioner
7 Versus
Stateof Punjaband others
CORAM HONBLE MRJUSTICE PERMOD KOHLI
Presentl Mr PS Dhaliwal Advocate
Mr Arun Bansal Advocate
Mr Amrit Paul Advocate
848

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PERMOD KOHLIJ IORALI

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Petitioners^are aggrievedof notice dated482009 issued bythe

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Punjab^Technical University^Jalandhar 111 The Tribune for

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Sahil Soni conductingcounsellingfor^admissionto 1^year ofBTechlBPharma on the 2016.03.21 12:24I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document

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Anita 2014.04.02 14: 30 True Scanned Copy Of The Original PHHC,Chandigarhbasisofinter^se merit in the examinatior1042 or diplomain

CWP No 12024 of2009

Vide the aforesaidnotification the dates for holdingcounsellingfor^{General and Reserved} havebeen notified Thesedates^were however and^a freshnotice has been issued^on t182009 111 SundayTribune whereby^{thefreshdates} of for the^same of candidates were notified from 11 112009 to 172009

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Petitioners in all these petitions^are desirous of seeking admissionin EngineeringCourses The Stateof Punjabissued notication for Common Entrance Test2009 herein after refened to as CET 2009 for admissionin Engineering in the^State of Punjab The advertisement issued in various^news papers and a containingmode terms and conditionsfor the CET was also issued The eligibilityconditions for in^CETm2009as notified was havingpassed1042examinationor appearedin^{the said examination} in science stream with EnglishPhysics and Mathematics All the petitionersappliedin the prescribedform and were allotted roll numbers theyappearedin^the CET2009 The rank of the petitioners 111CWP No2024 of^{20091S195191994363and4206} General rank of petitionerin CWP No 12023 of 2009 in the CET2009 1S 5294 In CWP No 12025generalrank is 2997 whereasin CWP No12204 of 2009 the rank of the petitioneris 6017 no2 was appointed as the to conduct CE2009 examinationvide Punjab^{GovtNotificationdated} 2732009 P29in^respect ofthe

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and ArchitectureDegreeCoursesand in respect Degree^{Course for the} locatedin the StateofPunjabfor

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locatedin the StateofPunjabfor Sahil Soni 2016.03.21 12:24

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I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document

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Anita 2014.04.02 14: 30True Scanned Copy Of The Originalthe academicsession200940 As^{per the} prospectus^issued by^the PHHC,Chandigarh

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CWP^No12024 of2009 3e

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the CET was to be conductedfor admission to vanous institutionsaffiliatedwith PunjabTechnical University Jalandhar Guru Nanak Dev UniversityAmritsar PunjabiUniversity Patiala and Punjab Ludhiana The eligibility criterion is in part B of^the prospectusfor CET2009 It^1S provided^{thatfor admission to} Courses 850Ioseats shall be openedto the candidatesfrom within the State and 150Ioto candidatesfrom outside the State For admission^to degreelevel Courses certatn generalconditions have been prescribed^{The conditionsrelevant forthe purposes} of^these petitionsare hereunder

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General Conditionsl

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iv in CETe2009^shall be for students

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claimingseats under 850Ioquotareserved for IPunjabresidents Students claimingseats under 150Ioquotareservedfor outsidePunjabcandidatesare required^totake up AIEEE they^are from CETe2009 If a candidateis not able^to producehis residencyhelsheshall be consideredfor

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15Io categorYe

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v Admissions^to the and Architecture^courses both for 85Io seats for residentof Punjaband 150Ioseats for outsiders shall be made strictly^on the basis of CET2009 and AIEEE 2009 and in^case seats not beingfilled underrespective eligibilitymay be consideredon any of the two entrance examinations If the candidates from^entrance examinationie CETIAIEEE^{arenotavailablethe dmission}

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can take place^on the inter^se merit in qualifyingexamination qualifyingexamination

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Sahil Soni merit in qualifyingexamination qualifyingexamination 2016.03.21 12:24 I attest to the accuracy and for 850Io^seats for Punjabresidentsshall be integrity of this document

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Anita 2014.04.02 14: 30True Scanned Copy Of The Originalvil PHHC,Chandigarh

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44 CWPN 12024of2009

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taken up first followed by for 15 Io^seats for outside Punjab candidates for 85Io General Categorywill be held flrst followedby for reservedcategory

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for 150Io^seats for generalcategorywill be held first followed by for^reserve categoryFor^150Io category^seats remainingvacant in 850Ioquotawill be transferredto 150Ioquotain the respectivecategory^as Seats still unfllled under respectivereserve and generalcategoryeven after the end of shall be transferredto managementquotaseats under the respectivereserve and generalcategory

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The will make^a publicnotice to this effect clearly^theno of^seats vacant in each^reserve category^and generalcategory^{and filltheseatsin} that very categoryonly After the abovesaid procedureifstill^{the seats remainvacant} in reservecategorythe can flll it from candidates to generalcategory Admission to such unSlledlvacantseats^as well as

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quota shall be Slmishedand finalized within 15 daysofthe last date of No^{extensionshall} be under any Ctrcumstances

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xvi Non refundable fee of Rs

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Two Thousand c Five^Hundred onlylwill^becollected by^the as fee from each student every time the candidateappearsfor in case of candidatesof quota^no counsellingfee

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will be charged

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From clause iv referred^to above it is evident that appearance Sahil Soni 2016.03.21 12:24 I attest to the accuracy and is for^students claimingseats under 850Ioquota integrity of this document

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Anita 2014.04.02 14: 30in CET2009 is True Scanned Copy Of The Original PHHC,Chandigarh

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4P CWP No^12024of2009

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and^appearance in AIEEE is for^{thosestudents} who^claimseats under 150Ioquotai reserved for outside Punjabcandidates Clause furtherprovidesthat the admissionto the and Architecture Courses bothfor 850Ioand 15Io seats shall be madestrictlyon the basis of the CET2009 and AIEEEe2009 It is 6mher that if the candidates from entranceexamination ie CETIAIEEE are not available^the admission^can be made^on the basis of inter se merit in examination Clause vo 61rtherlaysdownthat the to fill up 85Io seats for Punjabresidentsshallbe taken up first followed by for 15Io^seats for outsidethe Punjabcandidatesand similarly the counsellingfor General Categorywill be held ftrst followed by for^reserved It is furtherprovidedthat the seats still rematning unfllIedunderrespective generaland reservedlafter theend of counselIingshall be transfenedto quota^seats under the respective There is anotherconditionin the^same clause which requiresthe to make a publicnotice indicating clearly^{the number} of^{seats vacantineachcategoryie} reservedand general afler the counsellingand if seats^remain vacant¹¹¹ reservedcategorythe samecan be fllled up from generalcategory Clause 6ix of the prospectus dealswith the^seats fallingvacant aRercounsellingor any dropout vacancy and providefor fillingup of such seats under the quota the criteria ofadmission In tenns ofclause6xvi9referredto above a candidateis to pay a non refundablecounsellingfee ofRs 25001 for appearancein eachcounselling

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The

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nolniversity^notifiedthe l counselling Sahil Soni 2016.03.21 12:24

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I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document

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Anita 2014.04.02 14: 30True Scanned Copy Of The Originalschedulevide its notice publishedon 762009 The l roundofonline PHHC,Chandigarh

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4 CWP No¹²⁰²⁴ of2009

for admission^to for collegesaffiliated¹¹¹ the State for 850Ioand 150Ioseats^was to be held between 972009 to 1372009 and second roundof f6r 85Ioseats^was scheduled^to be held between372009 to 1332009 and second roundof against^150Io quota^{wasto bescheduleedbetween482009to582009} It is relevant^to note that this was fixed for candidateswho had lll CET20091AIEEE2009 and was 111 respectto alI the locatedin the State of Punjaband affiliatedto Punjab Technical Jalandhar Guru Nanak Dev UniversityAmritsar Punjab University^Ludhianaand PunjabiUniversity^Patiala Though^{the notificationwasissued} onlyby^thePTU Jalandhar^asa Nodal Agency This^noticewas followed by another notice dated 972009 wherebybesidesnotifyingthe second round of online direct was also notified for BTechIBArchitecture and Bhamacy So far^as theonline for 850Io^seats is concemedit^wasto be held between1772009^to 1972009 and against150Ioquotabetween2972009 to 3172009 and direct was^to be held for various between 1072009 to 1372009 for candidates who ln CETIAIEEE2009 It^was alsonotifledthat thedirectcounsellingwill^also be held^on 682009 for^{thestudents onthebasis} of^{1042examination} from 900 AM onwards

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The aforesaidnotiflcation^was followedbyanothernotice dated 42009 publishedin Dainik^Bhaskar in^{its issue dated} 4009 whereby it hasbeennotifiedthat for admission^to the^courses in question

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will be^on the basis of inter^se merit in the

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examination 1042 Sahil Soni 2016.03.21 12:24 I attest to the accuracy and between62009 to integrity of this document

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Anita 2014.04.02 14: 30True Scanned Copy Of The Originalexamination^or diplomain between62009 to PHHC,Chandigarh

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CWP No 12024 of2009

882009 in the^manner indicatedtherein

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The petitionerswho appearedin CET2009 are seekingthe of the aforesaidnotice and a restrained order not to hold on the basis of 1042 examination or diploma^ltl unless the studentslike oetitionerswho 111 CET20091AIEEE^are to seek admission It is contendedthat petitionershave not beenprovidedchancealler the second counsellingand without affordingthem the the availablevacancies are being filled^uponthe basisof^{1042examinationor} diplomain and Pharmacyie the examinationin contraventionto the prospectus the advertisementnotice^as also in violation of the rights^ofthe e petitioners^{Videvarlousintenmorders} passedby^thisCourt petitioners were permittedto participate111 the and the were directed not to declarethe resulttill furtherorders

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As^a consequenceofthe aforesaidorders passedby this Coun

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in thesewrit petitions^the petitionershave been to participatein^the Mr Amrit^{Paulleamedcounsel} appearing for the hasstatedthat^even seatslvacanciesare also reservedfor the petitionerson thebasis oftheir counselling

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has filed its reply It is soughtto be projectedthat the candidateswho had appearedin CETIAIEEEe2009^have beenprovided in two^rounds of counsellingand onlythereaRer the candidates^on the basisofthe examinationhavebeen notiOed for counsellingThe have referredto the notification dated 972009 has been wherein the schedule for second online counselling Sahil Soni 2016.03.21 12:24

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I attest to the accuracy and for various reservedcategoriesand integrity of this document

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Anita 2014.04.02 14: 30notified and also the direct True Scanned Copy Of The Original PHHC,Chandigarh

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9J CWP No^12024of2009

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for^{thecandidateswhohavenot} in^the CETIAIEEE2009 wef 682009 It is by^Mr Paul^on behalfof the that^the aforesaid^notice is sufficient^{indicationthatno} candidate^whohas in CETIAIEEE has^come forwardfor and thus the availablevacancies^are beingfllled up byprovidingthe to the candidateson the basisof the examinationin tenns of clause of^the general^conditions of^Govt Notification dated 2732009 which permit^{theadmissions} on the basis of inter se merit in the qualifying examinationifthe^seats from^entrance examinationie CETIAIEEE are not available

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It is contendedthat after the notiflcation of 972009 the noti8cati0ndated 82009^has beenissued^for holdingcounsellingon the basis of the qualifyingexamination which has been in the presentwrit petition Mr Paul has also referredto the Press Note dated 32009 exure issued in this regard

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The short grievanceof the petitionersis that under the

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the first has been givento the candidates who have appearedin CET2009^and AIEEE2009 and^it is only^whenno candidate who has appearedin CETIAIEEE2009 is^Sheavailable unfilled^vacancies r9 42 can be filled up on the basisof the examination It is arguedon behalf of the petitionersthat after the 1 counsellingthe university^didnot noti67^{thevacanciesandthecourses} nor even it was communicated by any publicnotice that^no for CETIAIEEE candidates will be permittedafter the second and without

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providing to the petitionerswho^have

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inCETe2009 Sahil Soni 2016.03.21 12:24 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document

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Anita2014.04.02 14: 30 from the candidates True Scanned Copy Of The Originalthe seats^are beingfilled up in^a clandestine^manner PHHC,Chandigarh

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who^{did notappear} in CETIAIEEE2009 The havealsorefened to the press note issued by no iniversity^whereinit is mentioned^thatthe counsellingto be held on 6B2009 to 82009 on the basisof thequalifyingexaminationhas been keepingin view^the interests of candidatesand due to the fact that colleges1 had createdmess informationof the^seat allotment It is thus arguedthat the petitionershad no infonnation about the availabilityof the coursesand^seats afterthe second as it was never notified This position^1Sadmitted by^Mr Paul appearingon behalf of that after the second counsellingthe availabilityof the seatslcourseswas never notified It is also admittedpositionthat after the second or^even priorto that the universitynevernotifled that there will be^no for 6lrther afler thetwo roundsof the counsellingfor the candidateswho have in CETIAIEEE2009 In the flrst notice dated702009 online for first and second roundsfrom 972009 to 1372009 lrst round9and from 232009 to 2572009 second round9against850Ioquotaand from42009 to 582009 second roundlagainst150Ioquotahasbeennotified There is^no stipulation or condition that there will be^no thereaer Even atler the aforesaidcounsellingwas completedwhen second notice dated972009 was issued online counsellingand direct the number ofunfllled vacanciesand the available^courses has not been notied In the secondnotice itself the hasbeenordered^on the basis of 1042 and other qualifyingexaminationsand^a schedulehas been fixed vide the impugnednotice dated 82009 At no stageit was revealedthat there^are Sahil Soni

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Sahil Soni 2016.03.21 12:24 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document

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Anita2014.04.02 14: 30unfilled vacanciesin any ofthe institutions^nor the candidateswho have True Scanned Copy Of The Original PHHC,Chandigarh

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CWP No 12024of2009

in CETIAIEEE2009 were giventhe last chanceor communicated that there will be^no counsellingfor them atler the secondcounselling Clause O^{oftheprospectusclearly} providesfor admission^on the basisof CET2009 and AIEEE only Thoughunder clause theadmission^on the basisof examination is subject^{totheconditionsthat} no candidate who hasappearedin CETIAIEEE is available^{Since neither} the vacancieslcourseswere even notifiedafterthesecond counsellingnor a generalor publicnotice^was issued to enablethe CETIAIEEE candidatesto seek againstthe availablevacanciesit cannot be said that^no candidateis available when it is^a known fact that^a large numberofcandidatesappearin CETIAIEEE

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In view of the abovecircumstances the have been denied the of seekingtheir considerationfor admission against the available vacancies^even thoughtheyhave^a rightbeing CETIAIEEE examinees^as againstthe candidates who^are beingadmitted on the basisof examination The have violated the with and may be for considerationotherthan merit^as thesevacancies^are to befllled up underthe quota

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There is^no another importantaspect In the first notice the counsellingwas notified for all the institutions¹¹¹ the State of Punjab afflliated to PunjabTechnical UniversityJalandhar Guru Nanak Dev Amritsar PunjabiUniversityPatiala and PunjabAgricultural Ludhiana However the notification is for

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only^for Punjab^Technical University^{JalandharafOliated} colleges Nothing^{1Smentionedas} to how the counsellingfor the Sahil Soni 2016.03.21 12:24 I attest to the accuracy and affiliated^to other threeuniversitieswill be conducted integrity of this document

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Anita 2014.04.02 14: 30 True Scanned Copy Of The Original PHHC,Chandigarh

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CWP No 12024of2009

How the seats in collegesaffiliated^to otheruniversitieswill be filled isnot known This amounts^to Oll the part of the Punjab TechnicalUniversityJalandharand the eligibleinterestedcandidateshave been deprivedfrom seekingadmission through for the 4 affiliated^to otheruniversities Action is in contraventionofthe mandateofArticle 14 ofConstitutionofIndia

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In view of the abovecircumstances the notiflcation dated42009 and the action of to hold on the basis of examination 61042examination^or diploma¹¹¹ without first the list of desirablelinterestedcandidatesfrom the CETIAIEEE examinees 1S hereby quashed are directedto issue a publicnotice notifyingthe number of unfllled vacancieslcoursesin all the institutions located in the State of Punjaband affiliatedto the concerned universities forthwithand give^first to such of the candidateswho have appeared111 CETIAIEEE2009^for seekingconsiderationfor admissionagainst85Io and 15Io quota by fixinga cut off date If after grantingadmission to CETIAIEEE candidatesany seatslremainunfilled the admission may^{bemadeonthebasisofthe} examination

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85^e8e2009 lucky

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l Whether to be YeSe

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Sahil Soni 2016.03.21 12:24 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document

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Anita 2014.04.02 14: 30 True Scanned Copy Of The OriginalPHHC,ChandigarhCr1 7

Maheepinder Singh Mahal and Ors. v. State of Punjab and Ors.

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

Maheepinder Singh Mahal and Ors. v. State of Punjab and Ors.

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

What the court decided

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