Pune : The Bombay High Court has strongly criticized Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) for its controversial circular that allows students who have failed major parts of their courses to be provisionally promoted to higher academic years without clearing backlogs. The court described the policy as “surprising” and “shocking.”
The bench Justices Ravindra V. Ghuge and Ashwin D. Bhobe was hearing a petition by Amit Sahadev Harale, a first-year LL.B student, who failed in his first year and asked for relief. The petition put the spotlight on Circular No. 209 of 2025, issued under the signature of SPPU’s Deputy Registrar S. D. Davkhar, which mandates:
* First-year students who failed both semesters may be provisionally promoted to third year
* Second-year failures may be promoted straight to fourth year
* Third-year failures may get direct entry into fifth year
The HC remarked that such promotions “bypass logic and reason” and undermine academic standards especially for a university named after educationist Savitribai Phule.
To clarify the origins and implications of the circular, the court has ordered the university’s Vice-Chancellor to submit a personal affidavit by September 18, 2025, detailing:
* Why this circular was introduced
* Which academic bodies (Board of Studies, Academic Council etc.) approved it
* The list of students who have already benefitted from it
A further hearing is scheduled for September 22, 2025. Meanwhile, the court also addressed procedural concerns such as permitting of writer assistance for examinations, if requested and following due process.
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Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU), Bombay High Court, circular 209-2025, backlog exams, allowed to keep term (ATKT), provisional promotion, academic policy, student protests, law students, academic integrity.
