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HIGH COURT FOR THE STATE OF TELANGANA AT HYDERABAD
MOUSHUMI BHATTACHARYA, GADI PRAVEEN KUMAR, JJ.
Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University – Appellant
Versus
Vagdevi Educational Society and others – Respondents
Writ Appeal No.827 of 2025
Decided On : 28-01-2026
| Table of Content |
|---|
| 1. writ appeal concerning the grant of autonomous status. (Para 1 , 2 , 3 , 4) |
| 2. undisputed facts leading to the writ petitions. (Para 5) |
| 3. arguments concerning the grant of autonomous status. (Para 6 , 7 , 8) |
| 4. clarification on necessary permissions for academic institutions. (Para 9 , 10 , 11) |
| 5. role and obligations of the parent university in granting autonomous status. (Para 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17) |
| 6. evaluation of inaction and arbitrary conduct of the appellant. (Para 18 , 19) |
| 7. reasons for the unsustainability of appellant's refusal. (Para 20 , 21) |
| 8. inability of appellant to contest ugc's grant of autonomous status. (Para 22 , 23) |
| 9. resolution of conflicts between state and central legislation. (Para 24 , 25) |
| 10. obligations and regulations governing autonomous status. (Para 26 , 27 , 28) |
| 11. priority of ugc regulations over jntu regulations. (Para 29 , 30) |
| 12. justification for writ court's intervention. (Para 31 , 32) |
| 13. court's directive for granting autonomous status. (Para 33) |
| 14. final dismissal of writ appeal. (Para 34 , 35) |
JUDGMENT :
Moushumi Bhattacharya, J.
1. The Writ Appeal arises out of an order dated 25.06.2025 passed by a learned Single Judge of this Court in W.P.No.1247 of 2025, filed by the respondent Nos.1-3 against a letter issued by the appellant dated 23.12.2024 refusing permission to the respondent No.2 to operate as an Autonomous Institution from the Academic Year 2024-25.
2. Before the learned Single Judge, the appellant/Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University (JNTU) was the respondent No.1, the respondent No.4/University Grants Commission (‘UGC’)) was the respondent No.2 and the respondent No.5/the State of Telangana, represented by its Principal Secretary, Department of Higher Education, was the respondent No.3.
3. The respondent Nos.1-3/writ petitioners filed the Writ Petition aggrieved by the letter dated 23.12.2024 of the appellant/JNTU to the respondent No.4/UGC, wherein the appellant opined that the appellant was not inclined to issue a ‘No Objection Certificate’ for grant of Autonomous Status to the respondent No.2/Princeton Institute of Engineering and Technology For Women, Chowdaryguda Village, Ghatkesar Mandal, Medchal-Malkajgiri District (‘Princeton Institute’). The appellant also requested UGC to withdraw the Autonomous Status conferred upon the Princeton Institute for the Academic Year 2024-25 on the grounds stated in the said letter.
4. By the impugned order dated 25.06.2025, the learned Single Judge disposed of the Writ Petition and directed the appellant/JNTU to issue a notification by 05.07.2025 granting Autonomous Status to the respondent No.2/Princeton Institute from the Academic Year 2024-25 on all aspects covered by the University Grants Commission (Conferment of Autonomous Status upon Colleges and Measures for Maintenance of Standards in Autonomous Colleges) Regulations, 2023 (‘UGC Regulations’) except the curriculum/syllabus for the existing batch of students (Academic Year 2024-25).
5. The undisputed facts leading to the filing of the Writ Petition by the respondent Nos.1-3/writ petitioners are briefly stated below:
(i) All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) granted its approval to the respondent No.2/Princeton Institute on 22.05.2024 for the Academic Year 2024-25 in terms of The All India Council for Technical Education (Grant of Approvals for Technical Education) Regulations and the powers delegated under The All India Council for Technical Education Act, 1987.
(ii) The appellant/JNTU granted affiliation to the respondent No.2/Princeton Institute on 20.01.2025 for the Academic Year 2024-25.
(iii) On 27.08.2024, UGC granted Autonomous Status to Princeton Institute for a period of 10 years with effect from the Academic Year 2024-25. This decision was communicated by UGC to the appellant/JNTU on 04.09.2024 with a direction to issue the necessary notification within 30 days.
(iv) On 20.12.2024, the respondent Nos.1-3/writ petitioners filed a Writ Petition
AI
The Parent University must adhere to UGC Regulations for granting Autonomous Status, with failure to act within specified time leading to a presumption of no objection.
Universities must issue notifications for autonomy within 30 days per UGC regulations; failure to comply leads to deemed approval for autonomous status.
The court affirmed that under UGC Regulations, an institution can obtain autonomy with NAAC accreditation, and universities must comply with UGC directives regarding such status.
: Affiliation of University once the application is rejected by the affiliating University, it cannot be decided subsequently either independently or otherwise by the UGC, then the power conferred on....
The main legal point established in the judgment is that the guidelines prescribed by the University do not have statutory force and cannot be the sole criterion for rejecting the plea of the petitio....
The University must issue notifications of autonomous status within 30 days of confirmation by UGC, as mandated by Regulation 4.2 of 2023, confirmed by prior court rulings.
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.
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