All the Writ Petitions relate to the power of the Director General of Shipping, Mumbai, in granting approval of courses, recognition and affiliation of the institutes offering maritime studies, regulating the intake capacity of students to Maritime Institutions, pre-sea and post-sea training, determination of the eligibility criteria, etc., vis-a-vis the power of the Indian Maritime University, Chennai. As pleadings and submissions are common, they are being disposed of by a common order.

2. According to the petitioner in W.P.Nos.10912 and 10913 of 2009, it is an Association of Maritime Training Institutes registered under Tamil Nadu Act 27 of 1975 and has about 16 members, who are all Educational Institutions conducting approved courses pertaining to Pre-Sea Training. The petitioner in W.P.Nos.13687 and 13688 of 2009 is an Academy. According to the petitioners, Prior to 2008, there was no Act or rules to facilitate, regulate or promote Maritime studies in the Country. However, courses such as, B.E. Marine Engineering, B.Sc. (Nautical Science) and Diploma in Nautical Science, leading to B.Sc., Degree in Nautical Science, were offered by the institutions affiliated to the