T.Jayaraman v. The Government Of India
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED : 08.08.2025
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE C.KUMARAPPAN T.Jayaraman ... Petitioner Vs.
1.The Government of India Rep. by its Secretary to Government, Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi, Delhi - 110 001.
2.The Chairman, University Grants Commission (UGC), Bahadur Shah, Zafar Marg, New Delhi, Delhi - 110 002.
3.The State Government of Tamil Nadu Rep. by its Secretary to Government, Department of Higher Education, Secretariat, Chennai - 9.
4.The Registrar, 1/7
5.The Director, 6.The Controller of Examinations, ... Respondents Prayer:
Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India to issue a Writ of Mandamus based on the petitioner's representation dated 29.05.2025, directing the respondents 4 to 6 to permit the petitioner to write his arrears paper i.e., 1)Algebric Structures (UCM5A) 2) Mechanics (UCM4B) and 3)Real Analysis-1 (UCM5B) in his Enrollment No.A19101UMA6022 in June 2025 exam, December 2025 exam, June 2026 exam and December 2026 exam, by extending time through announcement of the University website since his academic period of July 2019 to June 2022 is fallen into the Lock down period of Covid-19.
For Petitioner : Mr.T.Jayaraman Party - In - Person For Respondents : Mr.D.Ramesh Kumar for R1 and R2 Mr.C.Jayaprakash for R3 Government Advocate Mr.D.Ravichandran for R4 to R6 Standing Counsel 2/7
O R D E R
The instant writ petition has been filed seeking to direct the respondents to permit the petitioner to complete the examinations in 1)Algebric Structures (UCM5A) 2) Mechanics (UCM4B) and 3)Real Analysis-1 (UCM5B) 2.It is the submission of the petitioner appearing as Party - In - Person that he joined in the third respondent University for the Course B.Sc.(Mathematics) for the academic period July 2019 to June 2022, whereas due to COVID, he was not able to complete the above subjects. Now, when he approached the respondents to write exam, the University refused to permit the petitioner to write the three papers, stating that the duration for completing the arrears is only within two years immediately after completion of normal Course. Hence, he has sent representation in this regard. 3.At this juncture, the learned Standing Counsel would submit that according to University of Madras Statute [hereinafter referred to as 'Statute'] under Clause 13 (1) (A), University can permit a student 3/7
to clear his arrear paper only during the normal Course period + additional two years period. In the case in hand, since the petitioner completed the Course during June 2022, the additional two years period ends in 2024. The learned Standing Counsel would further submit that the petitioner absented for many of the previous examinations. Therefore, if they permit the petitioner, it would be against the Statute and the same would open a Pandora box. Hence, he prayed to dismiss the writ petition.
4.I have given my anxious consideration to either side submissions.
5.While considering the submissions of the Party - In - Person, his grievance is that only because of COVID, he was not in a position to attend the previous examinations. Even in these two years, he attempted to clear the arrear subjects, but he was not able to succeed in his attempt. It is the specific submission of the petitioner that only because of COVID, his prospects to complete B.Sc.(Mathematics) Course within the specified period become impossible. Though the learned Standing Counsel would rely upon Clause 13 (1) of the Statute and would submit that the University cannot permit a student to write 4/7
exam after two years from the normal duration of his Course, while reading Clause 13 (2), it is obvious that under certain force majure circumstances, the University can permit a student to write the exam. In the case in hand, the petitioner has completed almost all the exams except these three subjects. Even for these three subjects, he made many attempts, but he could not succeed the same due to COVID pandemic.
6.This Court finds some force in the submission of the petitioner that he may be accommodated under Clause 13 (2) of the Statute, as the situation was beyond the control of the petitioner, due to COVID pandemic. Hence, this Court directs the respondents to consider the petitioner's representation dated 29.05.2025, positively, as a special case and make arrangement for conducting exams for the petitioner. It is made clear that this order cannot be taken as a precedent for others as this order is passed only based upon the above peculiar circumstances.
7.In the result, the writ petition is disposed of with the above direction. No costs.
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08.08.2025 pri Index: Yes/ No Speaking Order: Yes/ No NCC: Yes/ No To 1.The Secretary to Government, Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi, Delhi - 110 001.
2.The Chairman, University Grants Commission (UGC), Bahadur Shah, Zafar Marg, New Delhi, Delhi - 110 002.
3.The State Government of Tamil Nadu Rep. by its Secretary to Government, Department of Higher Education, Secretariat, Chennai - 9.
4.The Registrar, 5.The Director, 6.The Controller of Examinations, 6/7
C.KUMARAPPAN,J.
pri 7/7
08.08.2025 8/7