Part VIII Ext. No. 2 ( H 2897 Ordinance I) (Eng), HIGHER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, MAHARASHTRA ORDINANCE No. I OF 2026. AN ORDINANCE, further to amend the Maharashtra Public Universities Act, 2016.

RNI No. MAHENG /2009/35528 महाारााष्ट्रट शाासन रााजपत्र असाधााराण भााग आठ वर्षष १२, अंक २] बुुधावारा, फेेब्रुुवाराी १८, २०२६ / माघ २९, शाके १९४७ ]पष्ृठ े3, किंकमं त : रुपये े२७.०० असाधााराण क्रमांक २ प्रााकिंधाकृत प्राकाशान महाारााष्ट्र किंवधाानमंडळााचेे अकिंधाकिंनयेम व रााज्येपालांांनी प्राख्येाकिंपत केलांेलांे अध्येादेेशा व केलांेलांे किंवकिंनयेम आकिंण किंवकिंधा व न्येाये किंवभाागाकडून आलांेलांी किंवधाेयेके (इंंग्रजी अनुवादे).

In pursuance of clause (3) of article 348 of the Constitution of India, the following translation in English of the Maharashtra Public Universities (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026 (Mah. Ord. I of 2026), is hereby published under the authority of the Governor.

By order and in the name of the Governor of Maharashtra, SATISH WAGHOLE, Secretary (Legislation) to Government, Law and Judiciary Department. [ Translation in English of the Maharashtra Public Universities (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026 (Mah. Ord. I of 2026), published under the authority of the Governor].

———————— HIGHER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT Mantralaya, Madam Cama Marg, Hutatma Rajguru Chowk, Mumbai 400 032, dated the 18th February 2026.

MAHARASHTRA ORDINANCE No. I OF 2026.

AN ORDINANCE further to amend the Maharashtra Public Universities Act, 2016.

WHEREAS both Houses of the State Legislature are not in session;

AND WHEREAS the Governor of Maharashtra is satisfied that circumstances exit which render it necessary for him to take immediate action Mah. VI further to amend the Maharashtra Public Universities Act, 2016, for the of 2017. purposes hereinafter appearing;

NOW, THEREFORE, in exercise of the powers conferred by clause (1) of article 213 of the Constitution of India, the Governor of Maharashtra is hereby pleased to promulgate the following Ordinance, namely :—

1. (1) This Ordinance may be called the Maharashtra Public Universities Short title and

(Amendment) Ordinance, 2026. commencement. ( १) भााग आठ—२-१2 महाारााष्ट्रट शाासन रााजपत्र असाधााराण भााग आठ, फेेब्रुुवाराी १८, २०२६ / माघ २९, शाके १९४७

(2) It shall come into force at once.

Amendment 2. In section 109 of the Maharashtra Public Universities Act, 2016, in Mah. VI of section 109 sub-section (3),— of 2017. of Mah. VI of

2017. (1) in clause (d), after the existing proviso, the following proviso shall be added, namely :— “Provided further that, for the academic year 2026-2027, the State Government may grant Letter of Intent on or before 15th March

2026.”;

(2) in clause (g), second proviso and Table shall be deleted.महाारााष्ट्रट शाासन रााजपत्र असाधााराण भााग आठ, फेेब्रुुवाराी १८, २०२६ / माघ २९, शाके १९४७ 3 STATEMENT

Section 109 of the Maharashtra Public Universities Act, 2016 (Mah. VI of

2017), provides for the procedure for permission for opening new college or new course, subject, faculty, division or satellite centre. Clause (d) of sub-section (3) of said section 109 provides that, out of the applications recommended by the university, the State Government may grant a Letter of Intent on or before 31st January of the immediately following year after the recommendations of the university under clause (c) of said section 109 .

2. Due to Code of Conduct for elections of local authorities the Government was not able to grant Letter of Intent within the prescribed period. The Government, therefore, considered expedient to amend clause (d) of sub-section

(3) of section 109, suitably, so as to extend the date for grant of Letter of Intent by the State Government for opening a new college or institution of higher learning for the academic year 2026-2027.

3. As both Houses of the State Legislatures are not in session and the Governor of Maharashtra is satisfied that circumstances so exist which render it necessary for him to take immediate action further to amend the Maharashtra Public Universities Act, 2016 (Mah. VI of 2017), for the aforesaid purposes, this Ordinance is promulgated.

Mumbai, ACHARYA DEVVRAT, Dated the 18th February 2026. Governor of Maharashtra.

By order and in the name of the Governor of Maharashtra, B. VENUGOPAL REDDY, Additional Chief Secretary to Government.

ON BEHALF OF GOVERNMENT PRINTING, STATIONERY AND PUBLICATION, PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY DIRECTOR, RUPENDRA DINESH MORE, PRINTED AT GOVERNMENT CENTRAL PRESS, 21-A, NETAJI SUBHASH ROAD, CHARNI ROAD, MUMBAI 400 004 AND PUBLISHED AT DIRECTORATE OF GOVERNMENT PRINTING, STATIONERY AND PUBLICATIONS, 21-A, NETAJI SUBHASH ROAD, CHARNI ROAD, MUMBAI 400 004. EDITOR : DIRECTOR, RUPENDRA DINESH MORE.