Madras High CourtWP/20071/2021disposed of

B.Ramkumar Adityan v. Principal Secretary

2024-02-01Honourable The Chief Justice,Honourable Mr Justice D.Bharatha Chakravarthy4 pages

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 01.02.2024

CORAM

THE HON'BLE MR.SANJAY V.GANGAPURWALA, CHIEF JUSTICE AND THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE D.BHARATHA CHAKRAVARTHY B.Ramkumar Adityan : Petitioner versus 1.The Principal Secretary Higher Education Department Chennai - 600 009.

2.The Secretary University Grants Commission(UGC) Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi - 110 002. 3.The Joint Secretary Distance Education Bureau UGC No.35 Feroze Shah Road, New Delhi - 110 001. 4.The Secretary and Director General Department of Agricultural Research & Education Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Ministry of Agriculture and Farmer Welfare 5.The Secretary Bar Council of India (BCI) 21,Rouse Avenue Institutional Area Near Bal Bhawan New Delhi - 110 002.

6.The Member Secretary All India Council for Technical Education(AICTE) Nelson Mandela Marg Vasant Kunj New Delhi - 110070.

7.The Registrar Annamalai University Annamalai Nagar - 608 002.

8.The Director Directorate of Distance Education Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar - 608 002.

: Respondents Prayer: Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for issuance of a Writ of Mandamus forbearing the respondents no. 7 and 8 to conduct Prohibited programmes under online, open and distance education mode (ODE) as per rules 2(z) of the University Grants Commission (Open and Distance Learning Programmes and Online Programmes) Regulations 2020 published in the Gazette on 04.09.2020 and consequently direct the respondents no. 7 and 8 to withdraw the prohibited degrees awarded in Law Agriculture and Engineering and refund the collected fee from the students without any deduction within stipulated time. For Petitioner :

Mr.J.Antony Jesus For Respondents 1 and 4 :

Mr.C.Kathiravan, Special Government Pleader For Respondent No.5 :

Mr.S.R.Raghunathan For Respondents 2 & 3 :

Mrs.V.Sudha For Respondents 6, 7 :

Mr.S.Sithira Anandhan

ORDER

(Made by the Hon'ble Chief Justice) Learned counsel for the petitioner, on instructions, submits that respondents 7 and 8 have stopped the prohibited programmes under online, open and distance education mode.

2. In light of that, nothing survives for adjudication in the writ petition. The writ petition is disposed of. There shall be no order as to costs. Consequently, WMP Nos.21326, 21328 of 2021 are closed. (S.V.G., CJ.) (D.B.C., J.) 01.02.2024 Index : Yes/No : Yes/No tar To 1.The Principal Secretary Higher Education Department Chennai - 600 009.

2.The Secretary University Grants Commission(UGC) Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi - 110 002. 3.The Joint Secretary Distance Education Bureau University Grants Commission No.35 Feroze Shah Road, New Delhi - 110 001.

4.The Secretary and Director General Department of Agricultural Research & Education Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Ministry of Agriculture and Farmer Welfare 5.The Secretary Bar Council of India (BCI) 21,Rouse Avenue Institutional Area Near Bal Bhawan New Delhi - 110 002.

THE HON'BLE CHIEF JUSTICE AND D.BHARATHA CHAKRAVARTHY, J.

(tar) 6.The Member Secretary All India Council for Technical Education(AICTE) Nelson Mandela Marg Vasant Kunj New Delhi - 110070.

7.The Registrar Annamalai University Annamalai nagar - 608 002.

8.The Director Directorate of Distance Education Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar - 608 002 01.02.2024