2025:MHC:2750 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS ORDER RESERVED ON : 28.11.2025 ORDER PRONOUNCED ON : 03.12.2025 CORAM THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE N.ANAND VENKATESH Writ Petition No.39123 of 2025 and W.M.P.Nos. 43904 & 43908 of 2025 Chettinad Academy of Research and Education, established and running Chettinad Institute of Medical Services, represented by its Authorized Signatory, Mr.Sivaramakrishnan Hariharan, Nallur Manamai, East Coast Road, Thirukalunkundram Taluk, Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu 603 102. Email ID – dean_cims@care.edu.in.

Petitioner Vs

1.The State of Tamil Nadu, represented by the Principal Secretary, Health and Family Department, Secretariat, Chennai – 600 009.

2.The Director, Directorate of Medical Education, No.162, EVR Periyar Salai, Kilpauk, Chennai – 600 010.

3.National Medical Commission, Pocket - 14, Sector - 8, Dwaraka Phase - I, New Delhi - 110 077.

(R3 suo motu impleaded vide order dated

20.11.2025 made in W.P.No.39123/2025 by NAVJ)

Respondents Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking issuance of a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus calling for the records calling for the records of the first respondent with respect to the impugned letter issued by it on 09.10.2025 vide Letter No.7651/MCA- 2/2025-3 and quash the same and consequently, direct the respondents herein to issue Essentially Certificate in favour of the petitioner in pursuance to the petitioner’s application dated 22.08.2025.

For Petitioner : Mr.Vijay Narayan, Senior Counsel for Mr.Vaibhav R.Venkatesh For Respondents : Mrs.M.Sneha Special Counsel [R1 & R2] Mrs.Shubharanjani Ananth Standing Counsel [R3]

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ORDER

This writ petition has been filed challenging the impugned letter of first respondent dated 09.10.2025 and consequently, direct respondents to issue Essentiality Certificate [for brevity ‘EC’] in favour of the petitioner pursuant to petitioner’s application dated 22.08.2025.

2. The petitioner acquired the subject property through an e-auction conducted by the Indian Bank on 31.07.2024. This property was previously owned by Ponnaiyah Ramajayam Institute of Science and Technology [PRIST] Trust. As part of acquisition, the petitioner took possession of the movable and immovable assets including 37.875 acres of land and statutory approvals that were in the name of PRIST Trust pertaining to the subject property. The further case of petitioner is that PRIST Trust was issued with EC on 28.08.2014 for the establishment of a medical college with an annual intake of 150 students within the campus area. Subsequently, the Medical Council of India and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, granted permission to PRIST Trust to admit students to the MBBS course for the academic year

2016-17.

3. The said PRIST Trust was barred from admitting students from the academic year 2017-18 and 2018-19 and PRIST Trust also failed to apply for renewal of admissions for the subsequent academic years. 4. The petitioner after acquiring the property submitted an application dated 07.01.2025 to the National Medical Commission [for brevity ‘NMC’] seeking approval to admit 150 students for the academic year 2025-26 under the name ‘Chettinad Institute of Medical Sciences’. On 28.05.2025, the petitioner received a show cause notice from NMC highlighting certain deficiencies in the application. Among other things, NMC noted that the EC relied upon by the petitioner was issued in the name of PRIST Trust and since the petitioner had applied under a new category, EC has to be obtained in the name of the petitioner.

5. In response to the above notice, the petitioner submitted a detailed reply on 02.06.2025 clarifying the issues raised and enclosing all the supporting documents. However, on 08.07.2025, NMC issued a letter rejecting the application submitted by the petitioner.

6. The petitioner applied for issuance of a fresh EC for the academic year 2025-26 through a request letter dated 22.08.2025 sent to second respondent. The