IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED : 26.11.2025 CORAM THE HONOURABLE Mr.JUSTICE N. ANAND VENKATESH M.P.Nachimuthu M.Jaganathan Educational Trust Rep By Its Joint Managing Trustee

145,Thirunagar Colony, Erode 638003 Educational Agency M.P.Nachimuthu M.Jaganathan Engineering College, Murungatholuvu Village, Chennimalai,Perundurai, Erode 638112 Petitioner(s)

Vs

1. University Grants Commission, Represented By Its Secretary, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg,New Delhi 110 002

2.The Registrar, Anna University, Sardar Patel Road Chennai 600 025 Respondent(s)

Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for issuance of a writ of mandamus directing the 2nd respondent university to notify the autonomous status granted to the petitioner college by the 1st respondent University Grants Commission vide order in No.F.2-10/2023 (AC-Policy) dated 06.06.2025 for a period of five years from 2025-2026 to 2029-2030,as per clause 4.2 of University Grants Commission (Conferment of Autonomous Status upon Colleges and Measures for maintenance of standards in autonomous colleges) Regulation, 2023 forthwith.

For Petitioner : Mr.D.Prabhu Mukunth Arunkumar For R1 : Mrs.V.Sudha Senior Standing Counsel For R2 : Mr.U.Baranidharan Standing Counsel

O R D E R

This writ petition has been filed for the issue of a writ of mandamus directing the 2nd respondent University to notify the autonomous status granted to the petitioner College by the 1st respondent/University Grants Commission within a time frame fixed by this Court.

2.Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner, the learned Senior Standing Counsel for the 1st respondent and the learned Standing Counsel for the

2nd respondent.

3.The case of the petitioner is that the petitioner College has been functioning for more than 24 years with appropriate approval from AICTE and affiliation granted by the 2nd respondent University. The college was included in the list of colleges under Section 2(f) and 12(B) of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956, under the head of Non-Government Self Financed College teaching up to Master Degree by the 1st respondent vide proceeding dated

21.03.2017.

4.The petitioner was eligible as per Regulation 6 of the University Grants Commission (Conferment of Autonomous Status upon Colleges and Measures for Maintenance of Standards in Autonomous Colleges) Regulations, 2023 [hereinafter "UGC Regulations 2023"]. Accordingly, the petitioner submitted an application to the 1st respondent for conferment of autonomous status from the academic year 2025-2026. The 1st respondent conferred the autonomous status to the petitioner College, through proceedings dated 06.06.2025 for a period of five years from 2025-2026 to 2029-2030 as per Clause 7.4 of UGC Regulations 2023. A direction was also issued to the 2nd respondent University to issue necessary notification within 30 days regarding the grant of autonomous status to the petitioner College as per UGC Regulations 2023.

5.The petitioner College, on receipt of the conferment, approached the

2nd respondent through letter dated 04.07.2025 to notify the petitioner College as autonomous as per the orders of the 1st respondent.

6.The grievance of the petitioner is that the 2nd respondent University has not notified the conferment of autonomous status for more than five months and it is under these circumstances, the present writ petition came to be filed.

7.Insofar as the conferment of autonomous status is concerned, it is a power that has been conferred to UGC and this position of law has been confirmed by the Apex Court. Apart from that, this Court, in a recent order in W.P.Nos.35, 38 and 39 of 2025 dated 05.02.2025, reiterated the said position. It was further confirmed in appeal in W.A.No.2514 of 2025 etc., batch dated 02.09.2025. It is brought to the notice of this Court that the order dated 02.09.2025 of Hon'ble Division Bench has been further confirmed by Hon'ble Apex Court by dismissing SLP that was filed by the 2nd respond