IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS Reserved on : 06.08.2021 Pronounced on : 13.08.2021 CORAM :

THE HON'BLE MR.SANJIB BANERJEE, THE CHIEF JUSTICE AND THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE SENTHILKUMAR RAMAMOORTHY W.P.No.11716 of 2020 and W.M.P.Nos.14401, 14408 and 14409 of 2020 B.Ramkumar Adityan .. Petitioner Vs

1. Secretary, Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, No.122/C, Shastri Bhavan, New Delhi – 110 001. 2. Principal Secretary, Higher Education Department, Government of Tamil Nadu, Chennai – 600 009.

3. The Secretary, Bar Council of India, 21, Rouse Avenue Institutional Area, Near Bal Bhawan, New Delhi-110 002.

4. Joint Secretary, Distance Education Bureau (DEB), University Grants Commission (UGC), Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi – 110 002.

5. The Secretary, Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry, High Court Buildings, Chennai – 600 104.

6. The Registrar, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar – 608 002.

7. Director, Directorate of Distance Education, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar – 608 002.

8. The High Court of Judicature At Madras, Rep. by the Registrar General, Chennai – 600 104.

(R8 suo-motu impleaded vide order dated 27.11.2020 made in WP.11716/2020) .. Respo