ATUL YADAVRAO BARAPATRE vs UNIVERSITY OF MUMBAI AND ORS. — WP/3894/2009

Summary: Atul Yadavrao Barapatre v. University of Mumbai (WP/3894/2009) The Bombay High Court dismissed the petitioner's writ petition challenging his termination from University of Mumbai service. Barapatre was appointed in 1996 against a Scheduled Tribe reserved post, but a 1997 Caste Scrutiny Committee invalidated his caste claim, finding he belonged to the Koshti community (Special Backward Class). Though the University later absorbed him in the SBC quota in 2005, the State Government's 2007 directive rejected protection because his appointment postdated the 15 June 1995 cut-off date. The Court upheld termination, holding that administrative absorption cannot cure defects in an appointment based on a failed caste claim without legal authorization, and that subsequent absorption requires statutory sanction. The decision prioritized reservation policy compliance over equitable considerations. This case analysis is maintained by casestatus.in based on publicly available court records.