N. Kaviashokkumar v. The Registrar
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 14.02.2025
CORAM:
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE VIVEK KUMAR SINGH and WMP (MD) Nos.420, 421, 1586 and 2640 of 2025 W.P.(MD)No.633 of 2025 N.Kaviashokkumar : Petitioner Vs.
1. The Registrar, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore.
2. The Dean, Sethu Baskara Agricultural College and Research Foundation, Affiliated to Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Agriculture College and Research Ins.
3. The Principal, Sethu Baskara Agricultural College and Research Foundation, Visalayankottai, Karaikudi Taluk, Sivagangai District.
4. The Vice Principal/Academic, Coordinator, Sethu Baskara Agricultural College and Research Foundation, 1/10
Visalayankottai, Karaikudi Taluk, Sivagangai District.
5. The Vice-Chancellor, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore.
6. The Controller of Examination, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore.
: Respondents P RAYER:
Writ Petitions filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for issuance of Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus calling for the records relating to the impugned order of the 6th respondent vide his impugned proceedings in No.CoE.UG.Edn./SBAC and RE dated 24.12.2024 and quash the same as illegal and consequentially to direct the Respondents to register the name of petitioner for the III year 5th semester examination along with his 2022 batch mates and to permit the petitioner to undergo the 5th semester regular classes, mid examinations and final practical examination within the stipulated time fixed by this Honourable Court.
For Petitioner : Mr.M.Mohamed Zamil for M/s.Ajmal Associates For Respondents : Mr.A.Thirumurthy for R1, R2, R5 & R6 Mr.S.Srinivasa Raghavan for R3 & R4 2/10
W.P.(MD)No.28988 of 2024 N.Kaviashokkumar : Petitioner Vs.
1. The Registrar, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore.
2. The Principal, Sethu Baskara Agricultural College and Research Foundation, Visalayankottai, Karaikudi Taluk, Sivagangai District.
3. The Dean, Sethu Baskara Agricultural College and Research Foundation, Affiliated to Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Agriculture College and Research Institute, Coimbatore.
4. The Vice-Chancellor, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore.
5. The Controller of Examination, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore.
: Respondents P RAYER:
Writ Petitions filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for issuance of Writ of Mandamus directing the respondents to permit the petitioner to appear in the fourth semester examination scheduled to be commenced on 05.12.2024 and consequently, allow the petitioner to complete the fourth semester and permit him to appear for the fourth semester and permit him to appear for the Environmental 3/10
Studies and Disaster Management of the third semester, within the stipulated time frame.
For Petitioner : Mr.M.Mohamed Zamil for M/s.Ajmal Associates (in both petitions) For Respondents : Mr.A.Thirumurthy for R1, R3, R4 & R5 Mr.S.Srinivasa Raghavan for R2 (in both petitions) COMMON ORDER The petitioner has filed W.P (MD) No.633 of 2025 challenging the impugned proceedings of the sixth respondent dated 24.12.2024, restricting the petitioner to register in V semester as per Rule No.8.2.2 of UG Rules and Regulations.
2. The case of the petitioner is that currently he is studying B.Sc. Agriculture at the second respondent - Sethu Baskara Agricultural College. He had 78% attendance in the second semester, which was below the required 80%. Despite this, he was allowed to attend classes for the third and fourth semesters. However, on 13.05.2024, he was informed that due to his attendance and as per Rule 6.1 of UG Semester 4/10
System Rules and Regulations, 2022, he was awarded an 'E' grade for the second semester and not permitted to appear for the final theory and practical examination. The petitioner was also instructed to re-register for the course along with the junior batch. After completing the fourth semester exams, he requested permission to register for the fifth semester. As per the rule number 8.2.2 of UG rules and regulations, the additional 'E' course should be accommodated in his semester timetable with maximum credit limit of 27, however, since he is having a total credit load including 'E' course of the third semester during fifth semester is 28 (3+25-28), he is not eligible to register for the fifth semester. His request was rejected on 24.12.2024, citing the credit load and the rules thereat.
3. The main grievance of the petitioner is that earlier, the second respondent initially allowed him to attend classes without informing him about the prevailing rules and subsequently, the second respondent college is being unfairly prevented from registration for the fifth semester which would result in a loss of one academic year of studies. Aggrieved by the same, the writ petitioner has filed the present writ petition.
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4. Per contra, the learned counsel appearing on behalf of the respondents 1, 3 and 5 submitted that the petitioner has filed this writ petition by suppressing the fact that he had withdrawn from IV semester course of 2022 batch vide his letter dated 29.11.2024 which was also confirmed by the second respondent college in its letter dated 29.11.2024. Since the petitioner has withdrawn from the IV semester of 2022 batch under Rule 0.4, he shall be re-admitted in the same semester along with the junior batch students. The learned counsel further submitted that as per U.G.Semester Rule - 6.1, the petitioner was awarded "E" Grade (incomplete) by the second respondent college and the same was communicated to him in the letter dated 13.05.2024, specifically informing that he will not be allowed to attend the final theory and practical examinations in the concerned courses and he has to re-register the course along with junior batch students when the courses are offered. However, the petitioner failed to do so and instead filed the present writ petition.
5. Heard the learned counsel for the parties and perused the materials available on record.
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6. The petitioner is a student of the second respondent College, which is affiliated to the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University. The issue raised by the petitioner is that he has been denied to register for his V Semester on the ground that his credit load is 28, which is not eligible to register for the fifth semester. A candidate must satisfy at least 80% attendance in order to be eligible to write the semester examination. Admittedly, the petitioner has secured only 78% attendance and as a result, he was awarded "E" Grade by the second respondent college. For proper appreciation, Rule 4.3 of the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University Undergraduate Degree Programs Semester System Rules and Regulation, 2023, is extracted hereunder:
"Maximum Credit Load:
A student can register for a maximum of 25 credits during a semester. Additional 1 or 2 credits shall be permitted at the discretion of the respective Deans of the colleges." As per the above Rules, a student can register for a maximum of 25 credits during a semester. Additional credits (1 or 2) may be permitted at the discretion of the respective Deans of the colleges. 7/10
However, in the present case, the petitioner has 28 credits, which is not eligible to register for the fifth semester. The law is well settled in the matter of education, more particularly, in the matter of entitlement to register for next semester/examination, the minimum requirements should be strictly adhered to. Therefore, this Court is not inclined to grant the prayer as sought for by the petitioner.
7. For the foregoing reasons, WP (MD) No.633 of 2025 is dismissed. In view of the order passed in this writ petition, no further orders are required to be passed in WP(MD) No.28988 of 2024 and the same is closed. No costs.Consequently, connected miscellaneous petitions are closed.
14.02.2025 Index : Yes / No Internet : Yes / No PKN 8/10
To
1. The Registrar, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore.
2. The Vice-Chancellor, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore.
3. The Controller of Examination, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore.
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VIVEK KUMAR SINGH, J.
PKN W.P.(MD) Nos.633 of 2025 and 28988 of 2024 14.02.2025 10/10