Procedural rights regarding access to examination materials do not confer absolute rights; compliance with specified timelines is essential.

ORDER

This writ petition has been filed for the issue of writ of Mandamus directing the respondents to furnish the photocopies of the answer sheets of the subjects in (TA1A – English, TA1C – Law of Contract 1, TA4B – Administrative Law) and answer keys for the subjects ( TA1A - English, TA1C Law of Contract 1, TA4B – Administrative Law) in the examinations held on November 2024 and May 2025.

2. Heard Mr.I.Abrar Mohamed Abdullah, learned counsel for the petitioner and Mr.S.Siva Shanmugam, learned counsel for respondents 1 and 2.

3. When the matter came up for hearing on 06.11.2025, this Court directed the learned Standing counsel appearing on behalf of the University to take instructions. Accordingly, the matter was listed for hearing today.

4. A counter affidavit has been filed by the Registrar of the University. It is stated that a Window period is given for the purpose of applying for the Xerox copy of the answer scripts between 27.06.2025 and 07.07.2025 and that the petitioner did not avail himself of this time schedule that was given. That apart, the answer sheets are retained only for a period of six months and thereafter, they are destroyed since the University handles exams for 15 Government Law Colleges and 12 Private Law colleges and roughly 1,20,000 answer sheets are accumulated every time after the examination is conducted.

5. The petitioner had written the subjects pertaining to the final year and also seven papers, which were kept as arrears, during May 2025. The petitioner cleared all the papers in the final year and also cleared four papers out of the seven papers in the arrears during May 2025. The petitioner wants a copy of answer scripts of three subjects in which he did not clear the arrears examination during May 2025.

6. It is true that the petitioner has lost the window period and the petitioner cannot claim copies of the answer sheets as a matter of right. However, for the satisfaction of the petitioner, no prejudice will be caused to the University by supplying the Xerox copies of the three arrears papers to the petitioner, to enable the petitioner to satisfy himself regarding the marks that were awarded to the petitioner and in order to take a decision to write three arrears papers in the examination that will be held during May 2026. The petitioner could have approached the respondent University at the earliest point of time and that would have enabled the petitioner to write the arrears examination being conducted in November 2025. The petitioner has missed the bus and the petitioner has to blame himself for that.

7. In view of the above, without going into the merits of the case, there shall be a direction to the 2^nd respondent to provide the Xerox copy of the answer sheets for the subjects ( TA1A - English, TA1C Law of Contract 1, TA4B – Administrative Law) on the petitioner paying the necessary expenses. This process shall be completed within a period of one week from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.

8. This writ petition is disposed of in the above terms. No costs.