Autonomous status conferred to a college applies prospectively from the date specified and does not extend to students admitted prior to that date under UGC regulations.

ORDER :

(N. MALA, J.)

Writ petition is filed for a writ of certiorarified mandamus, to quash the impugned order passed by the 2^nd Respondent university, dated 04.11.2024, for consequent direction to the 2^nd Respondent University to act in accordance with the conferment of autonomous status of the 1^st respondent UGC, vide order dated 12.02.2024, notified by the 2^nd respondent's letter dated 29.02.2024, at the institutional level as per Clause 3.10 of UGC (Conferment of Autonomous Status upon colleges and measures for maintenance of standards in Autonomous Colleges) Regulations 2023.

2. The petitioner college was started in the year 1991, by the petitioner trust. The petitioner college namely Sengunthar Arts and Science College, is a self financed co-educational institution with approval to conduct 15 Under Graduate programmes, 10 Post Graduate programmes and one research programme. The college is in existence for more than 30 years. The petitioner college was recognised under Section 2 (f) and 12(b) of UGC Act, and listed under the head Non-Government College teaching up to Master's degree by the 1^st respondent UGC, by its order dated 09.02.2016. The petitioner states that it was eligible for conferment of autonomous status, as per Regulation 6 of the University Grants Commission (Conferment of Autonomous Status Upon Colleges and Measures for Maintenance of Standards in Autonomous Colleges) Regulations 2018, now UGC regulations 2023, which is the same as Regulations 2018. Whileso, the petitioner college submitted an application for grant of autonomous status to the 1^st respondent, which in turn, conferred the autonomous status to the petitioner's college vide its order dated 12.02.2024, for a period of 10 years from the academic year 2024-2025 to 2033-2034, with a direction to the 2^nd respondent, to issue necessary notification within 30 days of granting the autonomous status. The 2^nd respondent University in compliance of the said order, notified the petitioner college as autonomous college for a period of 10 years vide proceedings dated 29.02.2024. According to the petitioner, the conferment of autonomous status as per UGC Regulation 2023, was at the institution level and so the autonomous status covered students admitted prior to the academic year 2024-2025. The petitioner college therefore approached the 2^nd respondent, but it informed the petitioner that the autonomous status would apply only from the year 2024-2025, for the students admitted from that year. The petitioner therefore submitted a representation on 22.10.2024, to the 2^nd respondent to abide by UGC Regulations, 2023, and the order dated 12.02.2024, of the UGC which the 2^nd respondent itself notified. However, to the shock and surprise of the petitioner, the 2^nd respondent issued the impugned order informing it that the autonomy would be permitted only from the academic year 2024-2025. The petitioner aggrieved by the impugned order, filed the above writ petition for the aforesaid relief.

3. The 1^st respondent filed a counter stating that in pursuance of the application submitted by the petitioner college on 11.09.2023, the Standing Committee of UGC, approved the conferment of autonomous status, to the petitioner college on 16.01.2024, for a period of 10 years from the academic year 2024-2025 to 2033-2034. The same was also communicated to the affiliating University on 12.02.2024, for the purpose of issuing necessary n