Universities must issue notifications for autonomy within 30 days per UGC regulations; failure to comply leads to deemed approval for autonomous status.

ORDER :

1. Heard Sri K. Pradeep Reddy, learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner, Sri Prabhakar Peri, learned Standing Counsel for Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University (JNTU), appearing on behalf of respondent No.1, Sri M.P. Kashyap, learned Standing Counsel for the University Grants Commission, appearing on behalf of respondent No.2, learned Government Pleader for Higher Education, appearing on behalf of respondent No.3, Sri Malipeddi Srinivas Reddy, learned Standing Counsel for Osmania University, appearing on behalf of respondent No.4 and Sri A.P. Suresh Rao, learned Standing Counsel for TG EAPCETB, appearing on behalf of respondent No.5.

2. The petitioner approached the Court seeking prayer as under:

“……to issue a Writ, Order or direction, particularly one in the nature of a Writ of Mandamus declaring the action of the Respondent No.1 University in not issuing the notification as required under the University Grants Commission Conferment of Autonomous Status upon Colleges and Measures for Maintenance of Standards in Autonomous Colleges Regulations 2023 and not permitting the Petitioner Institution to operate as an autonomous institution from the Academic Year 2025-26 inspite of conferment of Autonomous status by the Respondent No.2 in its orders Dated 28.02.2025 as being arbitrary, illegal and unconstitutional, against to the Principal of Natural Justice and consequently Direct the Respondent No.1 University to issue a notification for the Petitioner Institution to function as an Autonomous institution and grant the Petitioner Institution all the privileges of autonomy from the Academic Year 2025-26 onwards and pass any such other orders that this Hon'ble Court deems fit and proper in the facts and circumstances of the case.”

3. The case of the petitioner in brief as per the averments made in the affidavit filed by the petitioner in support of the present writ petition is as under:

i) The petitioner is a registered charitable educational society running Princeton College of Pharmacy, which is affiliated to the 1^st respondent University and accredited by NAAC with “B++” grade. Pursuant to the UGC Regulations, 2023, the petitioner applied through UGC portal for grant of autonomous status and also sought a ‘No Objection Certificate’ from the 1^st respondent University as required under Regulation 4.2 of UGC Regulations, 2023 duly paying the prescribed fee and submitting all necessary documents.

ii) Upon scrutiny and expert appraisal, the UGC found the petitioner institution eligible and, by orders dated 28.02.2025, the 2^nd respondent had granted autonomous status for five years i.e., from the academic year 2025-2026 to 2029-2030, directing the 1^st respondent University to issue the necessary notification within 30 days to enable the institution to function as an autonomous college from the Academic Year 2025–26.

iii) Inspite of repeated representations submitted by the petitioner dated 25.03.2025, 02.06.2025, 17.06.2025, 02.07.2025, 05.08.2025, 12.08.2025 and 19.08.2025, the Respondent University has failed to issue the notification, causing serious prejudice to the petitioner, particularly affecting admissions during the ongoing EAPCET-2025 counselling process. Aggrieved by the same, the petitioner approached this Court by filing the present writ petition.

4. PERUSED THE RECORD:

A) The relevant portion of the counter affidavit filed on behalf of respondent No.1, in particular, paragraph Nos.11 to 13 are extracted hereunder:

“11. In reply to P