The Mumbai University has one week to decide whether the appointment of Rajan Lakule as principal of JJ College of Architecture is legal.

The Bombay high court was told on Wednesday that the university had not arrived at a decision over the validity of Lakule’s appointment in 2004.

The petition, filed by Council of Architecture, alleged that Lakule obtained a doctorate in 2003 by paying $599 without undergoing practical training or attending lectures.

In February, the court had directed the university to appoint a committee to examine the facts of the case. The committee had stated that Lakule’s appointment was “illegal and invalid” as he did not have a PhD or adequate work experience. Lakule filed a 

petition had challenging the findings of the report.

University counsel Rui Rodrigues asked for time to submit its inference after taking the committee’s report into account.

The court said whether the decision is in favour of Lakule or not, it should not be enforced for two weeks from the day it is declared.