( 1 ) THE petitioners 1 and 2 are gentlemen and the petitioner No. 3 is a lady and they have filed this common and joint writ petition seeking a declaration that the whole process of selection adopted by the respondent-University for selection of the candidates for admission to M. V. Sc. , course for the academic year 1994-95 is illegal, arbitrary and without jurisdiction. Further, the petitioners have sought for a direction to the respondent-University to re-enact the whole admission process by increasing the total number of seats in the Faculty of Veterinary. Science to 80 and to make admission strictly in conformity with the provisions of Andhra Pradesh Educational Institutions (Regulation of Admissions) Order, 1974 as amendment by G. O. P. No. 646 dated 10/07/1979, which is hereinafter shortly referred to as the Presidential Order .

( 2 ) ALL the petitioners are graduates in Veterinary Science possessing B. V. Sc. , degree. All the petitioners with intention to seek admission to Post-Graduate Course in the Faculty of Veterinary Science of the respondent-University appeared for the entrance examination conducted for the academic year 1994-95. In. the entrance examination the petitioner No. 1 got 59th rank; the petitioner No. 2 69th rank and the petitioner No. 3 72nd rank. The University invited applications for admission to Post-Graduate courses in the Faculty of Veterinary Science for the academic year 1994-95. At this stage itself it is relevant to note that earlier to the academic year 1994-95, 80 seats in total were available for admission in the following 17 major fields of studies in the Faculty of Veterinary Science :1. Anatomy (ANA) 2. Nutrition (NUT) 3. Animal Reproduction and Gynaecology (ARG) 4. Dairy Production (DPR) 5. Dairy Technology (DTC) 6. Feed and Fodder Technology (FFT) 7. Genetics and Animal Breeding (GAB) 8. Meat Sciences and Technology (MST) 9. Medicine (MED) 10. Micro Biology (MIC) 11. Parasitology (PAR) 12. Pathology (PTH) 13. Pharamacology and Toxicology (TOX) 14. Physiology (PHY) 15. Poultry Science (POU) 16. Surgery (SRG) 17. Extension Education (EXT) The total number of seats were reducd by the respondent-University from 80 to 72 for the academic year 1994-95.

( 3 ) THE petitioners I and 2 sought admission to M. V. Sc. , Post-Graduate course in Dairy Production (DPR) whereas the petitioner No. 3 sought admission to M. V. Sc. , Post-Graduate degree course in Micro Biology (MIC) and all of them are not given admission, Hence they have filed this common writ petition seeking reliefs referred to above. A detailed counter is filed on behalf of the respondent-University contesting the claim of the petitioners.

( 4 ) SRI K. Pratap Reddy, the learned senior counsel appearing for the petitioners firstly contended that the whole process of admission adopted by the University was vitiated on account of the failure of the University to provide reservation of 30% of the seats in favour of women candidates as required under the provisions of the Andhra Pradesh Professional Educational Institutions (Regulation of Admissions into Under Graduate Professional Course through Common Entrance Test) Rules, 1993. When the Court pointed out to the learned counsel that those Rules are not applicable for admission into the Post Graduate Professional Courses, the learned senior counsel did not pursue that argument and press the same. However, it should be noted that there is no merit in this contention taken by the petitioners because the Andhra Pradesh Professional Educational Institutions (Regulation of admissions into Under Graduate Professional courses through Common Entrance Test) Rules, 1993 are applicable for admissions into under-graduate professional courses through common entrance test only and not to the admission into the Post-Graduate professional courses.

( 5 ) SRI Pratap Reddy, the learned senior counsel next contended that the action of the respondent-University in reducing the total number