Ananthasri Sailapathi v. The Principal Secretary To Govt
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED : 23.09.2025
CORAM:
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE G.K.ILANTHIRAIYAN and W.M.P.No.9438 of 2021 Ananthasri Sailapathi .....
Petitioner Vs 1.The Principal Secretary to Government, Higher Education Department, Fort St.George, Chennai-600009.
2.The Registrar, University of Madras, Chepauk Campus, Chennai-600005.
3.The Head of the Department, CAS in Crystallograpahy and Bio-Physics, University of Madras (Guindy Campus), Chennai-600 025.
4.The INSPIRE Programmee Division, Department of Science and Technology, Technology Bhavan, New Mehrauli Road, New Delhi-110 016.
5.The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption, No.293, M.K.N.Road, Alandur, Chennai-600 016.
6.Ashisha Kannadasan (R6 impleaded vide Order dated 23.06.2022 made in WMP No.11269/2021 in W.P.No.8908/2021) ....
Respondents Prayer : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India praying for the issuance of a Writ of Mandamus, directing the 2nd respondent to issue first rank certificate on merits as per criteria of CBCS regulation and award medals to the petitioner. For Petitioner : R.Prabhakaran For R1 : Mr.S.Rajesh Government Advocate For R2 & R3 : Mr.D.Ravichander Standing Counsel For R5 : Mr.Kishore Kumar Government Advocate (Crl.Side) For R6 : Mr.V.Vijayarajan
ORDER
This Writ Petition has been filed seeking a direction to the first respondent to issue the first rank certificate in accordance with the criteria prescribed under the Choice Based Credit System regulation (hereinafter referred to as "CBCS").
2. Heard the learned counsel appearing on either side and perused the materials available on record.
3. The petitioner completed her undergraduate course in B.Sc (Physics). Thereafter, she joined M.Sc (Bio-physics) for the academic year 2017-2019 at the second respondent Institution. She
secured first rank in the 1st, 2nd and 4th semesters. Overall, she obtained a CGPA of 8.375, calculated on the basis of 60 credits from Core Courses and 21 credits from Elective Courses, which is the mandatory for classification. Subsequently, she joined as a Ph.D Research Scholar in the CAS in Crystallography and Bio-physics at the second respondent Institution. However, the first rank certificate was issued in favour of the sixth respondent without considering the petitioner's CGPA for determining the first rank. Therefore, the petitioner submitted a representation requesting consideration of her claim for issuance of first rank certificate.
4. A perusal of the counter affidavit filed by the second respondent, as well as the submissions made by the learned counsel appearing for the sixth respondent, reveals that the sixth respondent had completed her postgraduate decree in M.Sc. (Bio-physics) under the second respondent Institution. It is stated that, based on her overall CGPA of 8.377, calculated by taking the best 60 credits from the Core Courses and the best 21 credits from the Elective Courses, which is mandatory for classification. The petitioner has alleged that the sixth respondent had taken Elective subjects viz., LIFE004, LIFE005 and LIFE409 and these courses are not prescribed for specialization, as per the Hand Book. However, as per the CBCS Hand Books of the year
2017-2018 and 2018-2019, students are permitted to take more Elective Courses than the prescribed limit and only the best of electives amounting 21 credits are to be considered for calculation and classification. However, the petitioner has referred to the Hand Book 2018-2019 but she has purposely suppressed the Hand Book 2017-2018 which is relevant hand book for the first year of the petitioner's batch 2017-2019. The petitioner and the sixth respondent belong to the same batch for the academic year 2017-2019.
5. The elective course LIFE409, entitled as Cyanobacterial Physiology and Biotechnology, offered by the Department of M.Sc (Botany), was chosen by the sixth respondent in the second semester, which is permissible under the CBCS Hand Book 2017-2018. Therefore, the petitioner cannot take the stand that the sixth respondent elective was not valid by relying upon the Hand Book for the academic year 20182019. Further, on receipt of the representation from the petitioner, a reply has been sent on 20.02.2020 stating that the qualification and course selection of the sixth respondent had been verified and found to be correct. It has also been clarified that the Centre for Advanced Studies in Crystallography and Biophysics in University of Madras, does not offer any self-study courses. Self-study courses are offered only in the Department of Geography and the Ramanujan Institute of Advanced
Study in Mathematics, University of Madras and the marks awarded for such self-study courses are not considered as elective courses. However, the petitioner has misunderstood that electives taken from other departments are self-study courses, despite the clear clarification issued by the second respondent. As per CBCS Regulations, the petitioner has secured a CGPA of 8.375, while the sixth respondent secured in CGPA of 8.377, calculated by considering the best 60 credits from the Core Courses and the best 21 credits from the Elective Courses, as mandated for classification. Accordingly, the sixth respondent was declared as first rank holder.
6. In view of the above, the direction sought for in this writ petition cannot be considered. Thus, the writ petition lacks merits and is liable to be dismissed. Accordingly, this Writ Petition stands dismissed. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed. No costs. 23.09.2025 Internet: Yes Index : Yes/No Lpp To 1.The Principal Secretary to Government, Higher Education Department, Fort St.George, Chennai-600009.
G.K.ILANTHIRAIYAN. J, Lpp 2.The Registrar, University of Madras, Chepauk Campus, Chennai-600005.
3.The Head of the Department, CAS in Crystallograpahy and Bio-Physics, University of Madras (Guindy Campus), Chennai-600 025.
4.The INSPIRE Programmee Division, Department of Science and Technology, Technology Bhavan, New Mehrauli Road, New Delhi-110 016.
5.The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption, No.293, M.K.N.Road, Alandur, Chennai-600 016.
23.09.2025