India, Oct. 31 -- The Bombay High Court has directed SIES College of Arts, Science and Commerce to pay Rs.50,000 to the University of Mumbai (MU) for admitting a Commerce student to its Bachelor of Science (BSc) Computer Science course despite her not meeting the university's eligibility criteria. The court held that the college could not disregard the prescribed admission rules under the pretext of academic autonomy, particularly when it knew that the student did not qualify for the course.

The court, however, protected the student's academic future, directing the university and the college to issue her marksheets and degree certificate after she completed the three-year course.

The student had approached the High Court challenging two...