Archive · 11 Sep 2026
Supreme Court Upholds Mumbai Law Seat Cuts, Waives Court Cost
The University of Mumbai decided to allow half as many students into many law colleges.
The change applies to three-year and five-year law courses during the 2026–27 academic year.
Lawyers’ Foundation challenged this decision in court.
The Bombay High Court rejected the challenge and ordered the group to pay ₹1 lakh.
The group then appealed to the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court also rejected the challenge.
However, it removed the ₹1 lakh payment after the group promised not to file similar frivolous petitions.
The High Court had questioned whether the case was really filed for an affected law college.
The Supreme Court dismissed Lawyers’ Foundation’s challenge to the University of Mumbai’s 50% reduction in law-college intake.
The cut applies to three-year and five-year LLB courses for the 2026–27 academic year.
Around 45 University of Mumbai-affiliated law colleges in Maharashtra are affected.
The Court upheld the Bombay High Court’s dismissal of the petition but set aside its ₹1 lakh cost order.
The Bombay High Court questioned whether the petition was proxy litigation linked to Rizvi College of Law and how confidential information was obtained.
- Who
- The Supreme Court, University of Mumbai, Lawyers’ Foundation, Bombay High Court, and affiliated law colleges were involved.
- What
- The Supreme Court upheld dismissal of a challenge to a 50% law-college intake reduction but removed the ₹1 lakh cost imposed by the Bombay High Court.
- When
- The Supreme Court issued its decision on Thursday; the reduction concerns the 2026–27 academic year.
- Where
- The case was heard in New Delhi and concerns law colleges affiliated with the University of Mumbai in Maharashtra.
- Why
- Lawyers’ Foundation challenged the University of Mumbai’s decision to reduce sanctioned intake for three-year and five-year LLB courses.
Courts and University Decision
Challenge by Lawyers’ Foundation
Intake reduction
Courts and University Decision
The University of Mumbai’s decision to halve sanctioned intake was upheld by both the Bombay High Court and the Supreme Court.
Challenge by Lawyers’ Foundation
Lawyers’ Foundation challenged the 50% reduction for three-year and five-year LLB courses.
Nature of the petition
Courts and University Decision
The Bombay High Court said the petition appeared to be proxy litigation filed on behalf of an affected college and questioned access to confidential information.
Challenge by Lawyers’ Foundation
Lawyers’ Foundation pursued the petition challenging the university’s action and assured the Supreme Court it would not file similar frivolous petitions.
Court-imposed cost
Courts and University Decision
The Bombay High Court imposed a ₹1 lakh cost after dismissing the petition.
Challenge by Lawyers’ Foundation
The Supreme Court took a lenient view and removed the cost while leaving the petition’s dismissal in place.
- Intake reduction
- 50% cut in sanctioned student intake
- Affected courses
- Three-year and five-year LLB programmes
- Affected colleges
- Around 45 University of Mumbai-affiliated law colleges
- Academic year
- 2026–27
- Petitioner
- Lawyers’ Foundation
- Original cost
- ₹1 lakh imposed by the Bombay High Court
- Supreme Court outcome
- Challenge dismissed; ₹1 lakh cost set aside
