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Bombay High Court orders release of Sayyad's degree after scrapped 5% Muslim quota
Sayyad, who completed an electrical engineering degree in Ratnagiri but had his degree withheld due to a now-scrapped 5% Muslim quota, won relief from the Bombay High Court. The court directed the university and college to issue his final semester marks, degree certificate, and leaving certificate, subject to any applicable fees.
Why It Matters
The ruling highlights how retroactive policy changes can affect students’ credentials and livelihoods, and underscores judicial remedies for eligibility-based exclusion.
Timeline
5 Events
May 16, 2026: Bombay High Court orders release of degree-related documents
May 16, 2026
The Bombay High Court accepted Sayyad's claim that he had not availed any benefit of the quota and ordered the university and the engineering college to release his final semester mark list, degree certificate, and leaving certificate, subject to payment of any additional fees if required.
February 2026: Quota revoked by state
February 2026
The Maharashtra government officially revoked the Special Backward Class (A) quota.
Sayyad completes electrical engineering degree (2017)
2017
Sayyad completed the electrical engineering degree course in 2017.
Sayyad obtains caste certificate under the 2014 ordinance
July 2014
Sayyad obtained a caste certificate in July 2014 under the ordinance and gained admission to the second year of an electrical engineering degree course in Ratnagiri.
Ordinance for 5% Muslim reservation introduced in 2014; later lapsed without formal enactment
2014
The Maharashtra government introduced a 5% reservation in education and public employment for 51 backward Muslim communities via an ordinance in 2014. The ordinance was never formally enacted and later lapsed.