The Bombay High Court has rejected a petition filed by an engineering graduate seeking a direction to the University of Mumbai to take back his degree as he had obtained it by dishonest and unfair means.
A division bench of Justices Shantanu Kemkar and M S Karnik rejected the plea of Vaibhav Patil on the ground that there was no provision in the University Act on the basis of which the high court could give a direction to cancel the degree.
Patil, 26, said in the petition that he had obtained a B.E degree in May 2011, but was feeling restless as he had cleared one subject in the first year of the engineering course by paying bribe to beneficiaries in a paper leak scam.
The bench observed that they were rejecting the plea as they did not want to put the petitioner into further difficulty of facing the prosecution, as he claimed to have obtained the degree through dishonest means.
Reacting to the order, Patil said he was disappointed to hear the verdict of the high court. However, he said he has decided to move on in life and would, therefore, accept the order and give up his stand on returning the degree.
In the petition, Patil said though he had no proof to show that he had paid bribe and cleared the examination by unfair means.
He, however, said his conscience pricked him day and night and he was unable to do anything or seek a job or do business.
He said that he had a heavy burden on his heart and wanted to return the degree. Once this happened, he could do small- time business and make a living.
In a letter to the Chancellor of the University (annexed to the petition), Patil said he had also approached a student body, but it told him that he was no more a student, and hence, his case could be taken up by them.
The petitioner said he had committed the crime by paying bribe to pass the examination dishonestly and was repenting this act.
He said he committed the crime under extreme mental pressure to save his future, but now guilt is killing him and he wants to surrender the degree.
