B.Mahalakshmi, v. The Registrar,
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 20-05-2026
CORAM
THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE G. R. SWAMINATHAN and WMP No. 21422 of 2026 B.Mahalakshmi ..Petitioner(s) Vs
1. The Registrar, The Tamilnadu Dr.Ambedkar Law University, No.5,Dr.D.G.S.Dhinakaran Salai, Poompozhil, Chennai 600 028.
2. The Controller of Examination, The Tamilnadu Dr.Ambedkar Law University, M.G.R.Salai, Near Taramani Railway Station, Perungudi, Chennai 600 113.
3. The Principal, KMC College of Law, (Affiliated to the The Tamilnadu Dr.Ambedkar Law University), KMC Gardens, Kanakkampalayam Road, Perumanallur, Tiruppur - 641666.
..Respondent(s) PRAYER - This Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, seeking a Writ of Mandamus, directing the 1st and 2nd respondents to consider representation dated 07.05.2026 and 08.05.2026 of the petitioner and to receive the examination fee from the petitioner notwithstanding the closure of the online examination portal and consequently permit the petitioner to appear for the IV Semester, B.A.,LL.B. Examination for the academic year 2025-2026 scheduled to commence from 22.05.2026 in the 3rd respondent's college.
For Petitioner(s):
Mr.M.Velan For Respondents 1 & 2:
Mr.S.Sivashanmugam, Standing Counsel
O R D E R
Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner as well as the learned Standing Counsel for the 2nd respondent University. 2.The petitioner is a student pursuing Legal studies in the 3rd respondent College. He is now in the II year. Due to inadvertence, the petitioner failed to remit the examination fee in time. The exams are scheduled to be held from 22.05.2026. At this stage, this Writ Petition has been filed. 3.The learned Standing Counsel appearing for the respondents 1 and 2 states that the portal was kept open from 15.04.2026 till 01.05.2026. It has now been closed. The digital architecture of the portal has been designed in such a way that it will not be possible to accept late remittance of fee. 4.The petitioner is in the II year. It is a five year course. The petitioner can very well write supplementary examinations. When the entire system has been digitized, it may not be possible for the authorities to engage in manual or physical transactions. Such double maintenance of registers would lead to hardship and confusion and throw the system out of gear. Law will not aid those
who sleep over their rights. Likewise, digital gateway will not open to those who fail to carry out their obligations in time. Once the gate is closed, unless the system itself provides for it, it cannot be opened. The very purpose of digitisation is to eliminate human discretion. No doubt, it can cause injustice in some hard cases. But one cannot help it. That is the way the system has to function as we step into the digital era. The petitioner has not assigned any reason as to why he did not pay the fee in time. Court would have definitely intervened if sufficient time had not been provided by the authorities. Admittedly, the portal was kept open for full two weeks. Since the petitioner failed to avail the opportunity during the said period, he has to blame only himself. Hence, I am not inclined to grant the relief sought for in this Writ Petition.
5.The Writ Petition is dismissed accordingly. No costs. Consequently, connected Miscellaneous Petition is closed.
20-05-2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order GSA/skm
To
1. The Registrar, The Tamilnadu Dr.Ambedkar Law University, No.5, Dr.D.G.S.Dhinakaran Salai, Poompozhil, Chennai 600 028.
2. The Controller of Examination, The Tamilnadu Dr.Ambedkar Law University, M.G.R.Salai, Near Taramani Railway Station, Perungudi, Chennai 600 113.
G.R.SWAMINATHAN J.
GSA/skm and WMP No. 21422 of 2026 20-05-2026