S.Ganeshram v. University Grants Commission (Ugc)
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED : 07.08.2025
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE Mr.JUSTICE C.KUMARAPPAN S.Ganeshram ... Petitioner Vs.
1.University Grants Commission (UGC), Represented by its Secretary, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi - 110 002.
2.Anna University, Represented by its Registrar, Chennai - 600 025.
3.Sree Sastha Institute of Engineering and Technology, (Affiliated to the Anna University), Bangalore Highway, Chembarambakkam, Chennai.
... Respondents Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying to issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing the 3rd respondent to refund a sum of Rs.64,000/- (One Sixty Four Thousand only) comprising Rs.25,000/- towards college fees and Rs.39,000/- towards hostel fees paid by the 1/7
petitioner for first year with interest at the rate of 12% from 27.02.2023 to till date of realization by considering the petitioner complaint No.539 (FNT/NET-2022).
For Petitioner : Mr.M.Venkatesh For Respondents : Mrs.V.Sudha Standing Counsel (for R1) Mr.V.Baranidharan Standing Counsel (for R2) No appearance (for R3) *****
O R D E R
The instant writ petition has been filed with a prayer for issuing a Mandamus directing the 3rd respondent to refund a sum of Rs.64,000/- (One Sixty Four Thousand only) comprising Rs.25,000/- towards college fees and Rs.39,000/- towards hostel fees paid by the petitioner for first year with interest at the rate of 12% from 27.02.2023 to till date of realization by considering the petitioner complaint No.539 (FNT/NET-2022).
2. The learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that he secured admission for the Artificial Intelligence and Data Science course on 16.11.2022, and started attending classes from 17.11.2022. It is the further 2/7
submission of the learned counsel for the petitioner that, in order to join another college, he received all original certificates from the third respondent college on 07.12.2022. He further submitted that, despite repeated requests, the third respondent did not refund the fees. The learned counsel for the petitioner would also invite the attention of this Court to the UGC Fee Refund Policy 2022-2023 dated 02.08.2022, which states that:- "In view above, and in order to avoid financial hardships being faced by parents, it has been decided by UGC that full refund of fees should be made by the higher educational institutions on account of all cancellations of admissions/migrations of students up to October 31, 2022 for the academic session 2022-2023 as a special case.
It is made clear that the entire fee, including all charges, should be refunded (i.e., there should be zero cancellation charges) on account of cancellations/migrations up to October 31, 2022. Thereafter, on cancellation/withdrawal of admissions up to December 31, 2022, the entire fee collected from a student should be refunded in full after deducting not more than Rs.1,000/- as procession fee."
Hence, he submitted that, based on the above Fee Refund Policy, the petitioner is entitled to a full refund of the entire fee. 3/7
3. The learned Standing Counsel appearing for the first respondent submitted that the UGC issued guidelines on 02.08.2022, due to COVID-19 pandemic-related factors, and according to the notification, candidates who cancel their admission or migrate upto October 31, 2022, are entitled to a full refund of fees. Therefore, he prayed to dismiss the present writ petition.
4. I have given anxious consideration to either side submissions.
5. The short fact to be considered is whether the petitioner is entitled to a sum of Rs. 64,000/-. In the case in hand, according to the petitioner, he paid the said amount to the third respondent. Though notice was served on the third respondent and the name is also printed in the cause list, no one has appeared on behalf of the third respondent.
6. In such a background, there are no contra materials available before this Court to contradict the petitioner's contention about the quantum of fee. To prove the quantum of fee, the petitioner has submitted the fee receipt given by the third respondent, wherein it is stated that the petitioner paid college fees and hostel fees totalling Rs. 64,000/-. According to the UGC Fee 4/7
Policy 2022-2023, for cancellation of admission upto October 31, 2022, students are entitled to a full refund. If the cancellation takes place after October 31, 2022 and on or before December 31, 2022, students are still entitled to a full refund, after deducting not more than Rs.1,000/- as a processing fee. Therefore, based on the above Fee Policy, it is obvious that the petitioner is entitled to a refund of Rs. 63,000/-, after deducting Rs.1,000/- as a processing fee, since he received all his original certificates on 07.12.2022, which is prior to December 31, 2022.
7. In view of the above, this Court deems it appropriate to direct the third respondent to refund a sum of Rs.63,000/- to the petitioner, within a period of four weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.
8. With the above directions, this Writ Petition is disposed of. No costs.
07.08.2025 kv Index : Yes/No Speaking order /Non Speaking Order 5/7
To 1.The Secretary, University Grants Commission (UGC), Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi - 110 002.
2.The Registrar, Anna University, Chennai - 600 025.
3.Sree Sastha Institute of Engineering and Technology, (Affiliated to the Anna University), Bangalore Highway, Chembarambakkam, Chennai.
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C.KUMARAPPAN, J.
kv 07.08.2025 7/7