A.Arivazhagan v. The Secretary,
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED : 16.07.2025 CORAM :
THE HONOURABLE MRS. JUSTICE N.MALA Writ Petition No.15374 of 2020 and W.M.P.Nos.19231 to 19233 of 2020 A.Arivazhagan ... Petitioner Vs.
1.The Secretary, University Grants Commission (UGC), Bhadur Shah Zagar Marg, New Delhi - 110 002.
2.The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), Rep. by the Regional Officer and Assistant Director, Shastri Bhawan, 26 Haddows Road, Chennai - 600 006.
3.The Registrar, Anna University, Chennai - 600 025.
... Respondents Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India, praying for issuance of Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus calling for the records pertaining to the Impugned Clause 2.E and Clause 4.1.C which mandates Ph.D qualification, as eligible criteria for applying to the post of Assistant Page No.1 of 5
Professor, in the Notification No.001/RC/UD-FR/PR 10 & 20/2020 - 1 dated 30.09.2020, issued by the third respondent, and quash the same, as the same is contrary to the University Grants Commission Regulations, and further direct the third respondent to receive application from the petitioner, as the petitioner is eligible to apply as per the UGC Regulations, for the post of Assistant Professor in the Science and Humanities Branch. For Petitioner : Mr.R.Bharath Kumar For Respondent 1 : Mr.C.Jayaprakash, Government Advocate For Respondent 2 : MB.Rabu Manohar For Respondents 3 : Mr.Bharanidharan, Standing Counsel
O R D E R
This writ petition has been filed to call for the for the records pertaining to the Impugned Clause 2.E and Clause 4.1.C which mandates Ph.D qualification, as eligible criteria for applying to the post of Assistant Professor, in the Notification No.001/RC/UD-FR/PR 10 & 20/2020 - 1 dated 30.09.2020, issued by the third respondent, and quash the same, as the same Page No.2 of 5
is contrary to the University Grants Commission Regulations, and further direct the third respondent to receive application from the petitioner, as the petitioner is eligible to apply as per the UGC Regulations, for the post of Assistant Professor in the Science and Humanities Branch.
2. Learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that The petitioner belongs to a Scheduled Caste community from a remote village in Cuddalore District and is the first graduate in his family, having overcome significant economic hardships. He holds a Master's degree in Geology and has qualified the State Eligibility Test (SET), making him eligible for appointment as Assistant Professor under the UGC Regulations. However, he was unable to apply for the post of Assistant Professor in the Department of Geology at Anna University, as per the Notification dated 30.09.2020, due to the impugned clauses 2.E and 4.1.b, which mandated a Ph.D. qualification and one-year post-Ph.D. experience, criteria that are contrary to the UGC Regulations which allow NET/SLET/SET qualified candidates to be considered eligible without a Ph.D. Hence, this case. Page No.3 of 5
3. Learned standing counsel appearing for the third respondent would submit that 26 posts were notified for the post of Assistant Professor and per the notification, all the vacant posts were filed.
4. Heard the learned counsel on either side and perused the materials available on record
5. In view of the above, nothing survives in this writ petition for further adjudication and the same is closed. No costs. 16.07.2025 Index :
Yes/No Speaking Order :
Yes/No :
Yes/No To:
1.The Secretary, University Grants Commission (UGC), Bhadur Shah Zagar Marg, New Delhi - 110 002.
2.The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), Rep. by the Regional Officer and Assistant Director, Shastri Bhawan, 26 Haddows Road, Chennai - 600 006.
3.The Registrar, Anna University, Chennai - 600 025.
Page No.4 of 5
N.MALA,J.
Vm/tsh 16.07.2025 Page No.5 of 5