University asked to accept admission form of blast accused

student for eng course

Mumbai, Feb 7 (PTI) The Bombay High Court today directedKolhapur University to accept the admission form of DhananjayAshtekar, an accused in the 2009 Goa blast case, to the finalyear engineering course.

Ashtekar, who was pursuing an engineering course inShivaji University in Kolhapur, was arrested in 2009 forallegedly providing logistical support to other accused, whoplanted and executed a blast in Panjim on Diwali eve thatyear killing two persons.

According to Ashtekar''s lawyer, Sanjeev Punalekar,when Ashtekar''s father went to submit his admission form, theuniversity refused to accept it stating that he would requireto get a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Margao prisonwhere he is lodged.

After the prison authorities refused to give NOC,Ashtekar approached the High Court.

A division bench of Chief Justice Mohit Shah andJustice S J Vazifdar allowed the application stating that NOCwas not required.

The bench however clarified that the accused would needto seek permission from the Sessions Court in Panjim beforeappearing for the examinations.

Eleven persons, allegedly members of Hindu right wingorganisation Sanathan Sanstha, have been chargesheeted in theblast case. The organisation has however been given a cleanchit.