A division bench consisting of Justice S M Kemkar and Justice M S Karnik rejected the petition filed by Patil, saying there were no provisions in the University rules to surrender the degree.
The on Wednesday rejected a petition filed by Vaibhav Patil, who wanted the University of Mumbai (MU) authorities to take back his degree. The 26-year-old engineering graduate said he secured the certificate in May 2011, allegedly through fraudulent means.
A division bench consisting of Justice S M Kemkar and Justice M S Karnik rejected the petition filed by Patil, saying there were no provisions in the University rules to surrender the degree. The court while rejecting the plea accepted the contention of Advocate Rui Rodrigues that a degree cannot be surrendered it can only be revoked, if a person is convicted in a criminal case.
Rodrigues also argued that Patil's claim of having obtained the through fraudulent means does not have any basis as there are no particulars given about the fraud having been committed by the people accused. Patil in his petition had said that he paid a bribe in 2011, to obtain his engineering degree. However his conscience pricked him ever since the procurement and unable to keep the guilt inside him he finally asked the University to take it back. He approached the court after certain university officials told him to consult a psychiatrist if the issue was troubling him.
In a letter by Patil to the Chancellor of the University, which was attached to the petition, he claimed that "I have been trying to forget this incident for the past four years but I haven't been able to do so. Even today, I don't feel normal. I am mentally disturbed because of this incident."
According to Patil he had failed in one subject in the second year of his engineering course. He later managed to clear it subject after paying money to someone. He added that he had committed this act under severe mental stress to save his future.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Bombay High Court")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}